Medical humanities and education

Medical research and medical education are important – but do we stop to think what this means? Our goal at the Sydney Medical School is to produce better health professionals and make the experience of illness less stressful.

Using concepts and methods from a range of different disciplines, including philosophy, history, sociology, education, law, public health, anthropology and the creative arts our internationally recognised researchers in the medical humanities, bioethics and social sciences work together to explore the “human” side of medicine. Our medical educationalists contribute research on curricular design, implementation and evaluation and investigate issues such as patient safety, professionalism and clinical performance.

This research aims to overcome the separation of clinical care from the experience of illness, encourage a critical inquiry into our responsibilities, as individuals and communities, to each other, and help us understand how biomedical science, healthcare and medical education take place within cultural and social contexts.

Why do we attach such importance to lengthening life and eliminating suffering?

What are the social consequences of prolonging life?

What are the characteristics a “good” doctor or health care professional?

How can we prepare health professionals for a career of life-long learning?

Find a Researcher

Looking for a researcher or a PhD supervisor? Follow the "Find a Researcher" button to search for our world-class medical humanities or a medical education researchers.

Latest News

Study reveals GPs are managing more problems at patient visits
An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report shows a large increase in the number of problems GPs are handling per patient visit, which Associate Professor Helena Britt says is partly driven by an increase in the reasons why people see a GP.

Medical education program for Vietnamese doctors
The University of Sydney's largest ever international health exchange and aid program has commenced at Royal North Shore Hospital.