Humanistic Approach Helps Produce More Thoughtful, Compassionate Doctors

Rutgers Health professor Andrew Berman begins class by sharing popular music and fine art to teach students how to listen and observe

Whether it's hearing a pop song or viewing a work of art, Andrew Berman aims to inject humanistic elements into his instruction of first-year medical students at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

"A doctor is someone who listens, observes and interprets," said Berman, a professor of medicine and pulmonologist. "These basic skills apply equally to the humanities as they do to the art of medicine."

Berman, a professor of medicine, begins each class session by playing recorded music he considers relevant to the discussion at hand. Sometimes, he also will ask his students to consider a work of art.

The songs Berman plays cover a variety of genres - from Taylor Swift to Pink Floyd - while art ranges from Botticelli to Warhol. During a discussion of ventilation for example, he started the class with Post Malone's "Hold My Breath."

"When we were covering the movement of air into the large airways of the lung, we looked at Van Gogh's painting Starry Night," Berman said. "In it, the turbulent sky resembles how air flows in this part of the lungs."

The concept of incorporating humanistic elements into the classroom is not new at the medical school, and it serves as a core principle of the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Center for Humanism and Medicine, which was established more than two decades ago.

For Berman, the overarching goal is to have patients, doctors, laboratory technicians, office staff, and everyone else in the health care spectrum all viewing each other as individuals.

"A physician's responsibility extends beyond facts and analysis," added Tanya Norment, program administrator for the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Center for Humanism and Medicine. "It requires the integration of compassion with intellect ensuring that both the heart and soul are engaged in the care of patients."

The medical school's emphasis on a humanistic perspective extends outside the classroom to include an annual literary journal, Ars Literarium, established in 2016. All students may submit work, which typically includes poetry and prose, as well as visual art. Berman serves as one of two faculty advisers to the publication, the most recent issue of which came out in February.

"The journal allows for self-expression, while also being an outlet for decreasing pressure," Berman said. "The ability to express yourself and the inclination to observe, both of which are fostered by Ars Literarium, will enable students to become better at patient interactions."

Whether through a classroom discussion or via the pages of the literary publication, an emphasis on humanism both encourages and requires students to consider the world beyond the confines of their education, Berman said. This includes class discussions that turn to public policy and global issues, as was the case during one lecture that explored respiratory consequences of climate change.

"For a doctor, it's essential to be aware that it's not about you." he said. "Doctors don't simply treat a disease - they treat the person who is ill. And that involves trying to understand their patient, the condition, and world around them."