Writing community: a humanism curriculum with an academic lens

Explicit teaching of humanism is a goal of education reform, but specific strategies to do so are limited. The authors developed a longitudinal third-year medical student curriculum combining reflective and academic writing with literary reading and reflection to i) improve writing skills, ii) enhance scholarly activities, and iii) foster humanism in patient care. From 2005-2007, 24 third year Harvard Medical School (HMS) participated in a writing program at this hospital. All students completed pre/post surveys and qualitative assessments of the writing program. Students felt better-equipped to access resources (P=0.03), conduct a literature review (P<0.01), and understand the meaning of the patient’s narrative (P<0.01) after the program. Their total survey score (assessing writing skills and attitudes) was also significantly higher after the program (P=0.02). Students described positive effects of writing on self-acceptance, curiosity, and patient-centered care. Of the 24 students, 4 published 5 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals in the first 2 years of the program. A writing curriculum focusing on humanism is feasible, and can enhance comfort with writing, early publication successes, self-awareness, and perceived humanistic qualities in the interactions of third-year students with their patients.