At this conference we will explore the application of the methods and texts of the humanities disciplines to the knowledge and practice of medicine, an endeavor that has come to be known as “Medical Humanities.” We use the model of translational research, in which bioscientific research is “translated” to its clinical applications, to consider both the research work of the medical humanities—the texts we study and the books we write—and its translation to patient care—the “bedside.” Through paired plenaries, hands-on workshops, and a closing session on redefining the Medical Humanities, we will try to answer such questions as: What is the “bench work” of the medical humanities? What does it mean to bring books to bedside? Do the humanities have an intrinsic role in clinical thinking? How does humanities research translate into clinical practice? What is the relation of narrative theory to narrative medicine? What is the relationship between the humanities and humanism?

Hosted by:
The Program in Medical Humanities & Bioethics
Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine

Co-Sponsored by:
The Program in Medical Humanities & Bioethics
The American Society for Bioethics + Humanities
and underwritten by the David and Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Conference features

Three Paired Plenary Sessions

• Narrative Theory At The Bedside - Rita Charon and Richard Zaner
• What’s Wrong With Patient Safety? - Kathryn Montgomery and Charles Bosk
• Rhetorics And Erotics Of Medicine - Judy Z. Segal and David B. Morris

Closing Plenary Panel

• Redefining the Medical Humanities

Panels

• Taking the History and Giving it Back
• Translating Representations
• Rhetoric and Practice
• Teaching and the Clinic
• Narratives, Fictions, and Ethics

Workshops

• Improvisational Theater, Medicine, and Clinical Skills
• Visual Art, Medicine, and Clinical Skills
• Film, Medicine, and Clinical Skills

Performance

• “Apoptosis is my Favorite Word,” a performance by Gretchen Case

Opening Event

• “PROVOCATIONS,” a tasting of ideas, wine and Vosges chocolate

Luncheon

• “Lost in Translation,” a luncheon with facilitated open discussion of debacles and regrets in medical humanities

Registration

To register, please download and print the registration form [pdf]. Please complete and mail to “NU - Med Humanities & Bioethics / 750 N Lake Shore Dr, Ste 625 / Chicago, IL 60611” or fax to (312) 503-0574. If you encounter difficulties with the registration process, please contact Myria Knox at p-knox@northwestern.edu or (312) 503-7962.

Venue

Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Please consult conference program for specific, finalized locations.

Note: This map reflects the current location of Prentice Women's Hospital at 250 E. Superior Street. Some university resources incorrectly list its old address at 333 E. Superior  St; please disregard this.

Accomodation

The conference hotel is the Fairfield Inn and Suites, a short walk from our venue on the downtown Chicago Northwestern campus.

216 East Ontario Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Phone: 312-787-3777
Fax: 312-787-8714
Reservations: 1-800-228-2800

Mention “Northwestern University Books to Bedside.” A block of rooms has been reserved at a conference rate of $205 a night. These rooms will be held until 3/24/2009.

There are many other hotels close by.