The Role of Creative Art in Teaching Critical Medical Humanities

Date: 17 October, Friday | Time: 13:30 - 14:45 | Venue: Academia Auditorium

Speakers: Assoc Prof Harry Wu, Dr Michael Thaddeus Tan, Mr Samson Wong

Programme Details: 

This interdisciplinary panel explores how the creative arts can serve as transformative tools in the teaching of critical medical humanities — an approach that moves beyond the conventional supplementation of medicine with humanism, instead interrogating the cultural, ethical and emotional dimensions of health and care. Bringing together scholars of history, creative health and nursing, the session showcases innovations in pedagogy that use artistic practice to cultivate observational skills, empathy, critical reflection, cultural awareness and ability to tolerate ambiguity in future healthcare professionals. The panel will argue for a reorientation of medical education towards creative and critical engagement, where art is integral to the formation of reflective, compassionate, and socially conscious practitioners, rather than being ancillary to medicine. 

Dr Michael Tan (NAFA,UAS Singapore) will open with his talk, 'Sense and Sensibility', in which he will highlight how arts-based methods can enhance clinical training. He will argue that the creative arts offer vital opportunities for cultivating perceptual sensitivity, team work and communications, and humanistic development — qualities that are essential for more holistic and humane forms of medical practice. Samson Wong (HKUMed, Hong Kong)’s talk, “In Their Shoes Now – Immersive Visual Story for Building Grief Literacy”, will then present a case of using a caregiver-created interactive digital story for students to learn about complexities of grief and loss in end-of-life care setting. He will consider how digital storytelling, and interactive media can engage learners affectively and experientially, prompting them to confront the complexities of death and dying in ways that traditional instruction cannot. Dr Harry Y. J. Wu (NCKU, Taiwan) will conclude the session with a presentation on museum-making and curation as critical pedagogical tools. Drawing on a 'rapid-response collecting' and student-centered curatorial project, Dr Wu will demonstrate how constructing exhibitions about contemporary health crises and lived experiences can foster interdisciplinary dialogue and challenge the boundaries of conventional museum-based teaching in health humanities.