The mission of the Medical Humanities and Bioethics Department is to illuminate the nature, goals and practice of medicine by providing integrated, interdisciplinary education.
Message from the department chair
Gary Hoff, D.O., FACOI, FACC
The Medical Humanities and Bioethics Department is proud to be unique in osteopathic medical education. Instituted several years ago, the department has responsibilities for a number of both required and elective courses. Our goal is to prepare physicians of the future to be competent, ethical, caring professionals.
Our department is committed to teaching a variety of subjects in the humanities to students of osteopathic medicine as well as to students in our sister colleges of Des Moines University. We currently provide three required courses to students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Year one begins with a survey course in History of Medicine. We believe that the history of the healing art, with special emphasis on A.T. Still and the history of osteopathic medicine is crucial to students’ understanding of today’s health care environment. Medical Ethics is also begun in year one and continues throughout year two. By means of lectures, readings, and small group discussions, students are led through many of the “real world” ethical dilemmas that they will be likely to face as they enter clinical training and practice. Supplemented by distinguished lecturers, the ethics curriculum provides a solid base for future professional growth.
We believe that a well-rounded physician must understand not only the science of medicine but the heart of healing. Accordingly, department faculty also offer a wide variety of electives to enrich and inform the education of students in all colleges of Des Moines University. Students may enroll in subjects as diverse as Medical Spanish, End of Life Care, or Medicine and the Arts.
Abaton
The University’s award-winning arts and literary journal, Abaton, is the responsibility of our department. Founded in 2007 and printed annually, Abaton publishes artwork, poetry, essays and stories by students, faculty, alumni and many others. Well-known physician-authors as Richard Selzer and Jack Coulehan have been featured in past issues. Read past issues of Abaton online.
Gold Humanism Honor Society
As a part of our mission the Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics is the sponsoring department for the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Founded through the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the Honor Society honors senior medical students, residents, role-model physician teachers and others who demonstrate “excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service.” The Society was organized to emphasize values of humanism and professionalism. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is only the second osteopathic medical school to be granted a charter.
Best wishes,
Gary Hoff, D.O., FACOI, FACC