Medical Humanities Events and Activities

Medical Humanities in the ICU Lunch Series

[27 Nov] Visual Arts in Shaping Perspectives of Critical Illness

An upcoming light-hearted discussion over lunch will explore how the medical humanities can give us greater insights and a deeper understanding into our daily work in the ICU.

Singapore Medical Humanities Conference 2025

[17 - 18 Oct] The third Singapore Medical Humanities Conference brought together over 200 healthcare professionals, arts faculty, and students gathered to explore how arts and humanities can transform healthcare delivery and medical education. The conference featured presentations on social determinants of health, narrative medicine, and mindful practice, with plenary speakers Professor Brian Hurwitz discussing medical storytelling and Professor Jeremy Sugarman addressing ethical frameworks for compassionate care. Creative showcases included the Vessels Exhibit, postcards, book booths, and student submissions featuring artwork from patients, caregivers, healthcare workers, and students. The event fostered dialogue about developing more compassionate healthcare approaches and highlighted the humanities' role in supporting both providers and patients.

Illness Narratives Power of Film and Creative Writing Workshop

[7 Mar & 5 Aug] This half-day workshop, in collaboration with NTU's School of Humanities, developed participants' skills in film analysis, creative writing, and textual interpretation through practical scenarios and shared learning experiences.

Addressing Patients’ Values in Decision Making Workshop

[13 Aug] This workshop empowers clinicians with the skillset to faciliate patients in making value-informed decisions about their healthcare.

Singapore Medical Humanities Conference 2024

[29 - 30 Oct] The Singapore Medical Humanities Conference brought together over 200 healthcare professionals, arts faculty and students to explore how integrating arts, humanities, and social sciences can enhance patient care and foster empathy in healthcare. The conference featured music and art-making sessions, patient dialogues, and discussions on topics from grief to global health, demonstrating the transformative power of collaboration between healthcare and the humanities.

Addressing Patients’ Values in Decision Making Workshop

[13 Sept] This workshop featured a multidisciplinary panel including doctors, psychologists, and academics who shared practical strategies for value-driven patient conversations. Participants praised the interactive format and real-life case studies, highlighting how addressing patients' values helps clinicians deliver more patient-centred care.

Poetry and Medicine Workshop

[13 Feb] In collaboration with National Cancer Centre Singapore, the Poetry and Medicine workshop featured Dr John Fox from The Institute for Poetic Medicine. He guided participants through poem interpretations and personal reflections related to healthcare experiences. Participants crafted their own poetry, with many noting how the process helped them process emotions, reflect deeply, and cultivate empathy.

CGH Psychiatry in the Movies

[5 Apr, 5 Jul & 8 Nov] The Medicine and Health Wellness Programme (ASCAT) at Changi General Hospital hosted film discussions on Pixar's Elemental, Black Swan, and How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. Participants explored mental health themes including emotional awareness, perfectionism, family dynamics, and intergenerational relationships, sharing personal reflections on how these films illuminate challenges in communication, values, and psychological well-being.

Illness Narratives: The Power of Stories & Creative Writing

[1 Mar] This workshop explored the complexity of such writing,which often requires a long hard look at one’s own identityand history. Participants were invited to write their ownillness narratives based on creative prompts and share areading of them.

Lunchtime Talk - Healthcare Experience and Well-Being Inferential Thinking in the Humanities and in the Clinic

[24 Jan] The Medicine ACP Office of Medical Humanities invited Prof Ronald Schleifer from the University of Oklahoma to speak on the intersection of literature and medicine. Drawing from his book Literary Studies and Well-Being, Prof Schleifer discussed how philosophy and narrative thinking enhance clinical understanding of wholeness and care. The session featured video testimonials from physician-writers, highlighting how humanistic perspectives can enrich clinical judgment and empathetic patient care.

SingHealth Duke-NUS Medicine ACP - NTU Medical Humanities Conference 2023

[27 - 28 Oct] The inaugural SingHealth Duke-NUS Medicine ACP – NTU Medical Humanities Conference at Nanyang Technological University explored "Rethinking How Care is Provided: Celebrating Diversity, Promoting Understanding, Examining Values." The conference featured keynote speakers Prof Angela Woods from Durham University's Institute for Medical Humanities and Prof Simon Kitto from the University of Ottawa, alongside sessions on mental health, caregiver narratives, ethics, and traditional Chinese medicine that fostered rich dialogue between healthcare professionals, humanities scholars, and medical students.

Enhancing Self-Competence in End-of-Life Communication Through Arts Workshop

[26 Jul, 11 Sept and 17 Oct] The "Enhancing Self-Competence in End-of-Life Communication through the Arts Workshop" was created by Mr Andy Sim, Senior Medical Social Worker at Singapore General Hospital, in partnership with Both Sides Now to help healthcare professionals navigate challenging end-of-life conversations. Through experiential and arts-based activities across three sessions, participants explored their feelings about death, built emotional resilience, and reflected on communication styles, with feedback highlighting increased confidence and the importance of active listening in patient interactions.

Creative Writing and Narrative Analaysis Workshop

[10 Mar] This workshop, in collaboration with the School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University, introduced participants to methodologies of creative writing, close reading, and conversational analysis. Participants applied these skills and methods to analyse literary and conversational content, gaining practical experience in humanities-based approaches to understanding communication and narrative.