BSHS Selectives 2023-2024
Selectives Type:  Medical Humanities

Selective Title
Stilled Lives: Exploring UTMB's Anatomical, Pathological, Surgical and Heritage Collections (BSHS Credit)
Course Number
MEHU-4404
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all Year 3 requirements
Responsible Faculty Director:
Dr. Paula Summerly
Other Faculty:
Contact Information
pasummer@utmb.edu
Periods Offered
5 & 11
excluding holiday period 8
Maximum Enrollment
8

Learning Objectives
1. Students will gain an understanding of UTMB heritage collections (including anatomical, pathological, and surgical specimens, archives, and manuscripts), and the history of medicine in Galveston (from a local, national, and international perspective).

2. Students will undertake original, independent, self-directed research on UTMB's heritage collections, archival sources, and digital resources.

3. Students will hone their observation skills by close reading of primary and secondary medical, clinical, visual, and socio-historical sources.

4. Students will craft written narratives (combining social, historical, and medical knowledge) of the lives lived. The accounts should also end with a contemporary analysis of the case (e.g. diagnosis an treatment). The narratives should be crafted with a non-medical audience in mind, so the account can be utilized in a future exhibition.

5. Students will gain an understanding of contemporary legal and ethical concerns which face medical museums: including discussions on procurement, consent, retention, display, and the repatriation of human remains.

Describe the qualifications background and career goals or interests of students who would benefit from the course:
Students interested in anatomy, pathology, surgery, history of medicine and health humanities.

Description of course activities
1. Introduction to UTMB's Heritage Collections (specimens, rare books, archives, and manuscripts).
2. Introduction to qualitative historical research methods and digital sources
3. Select specimens for research.
5. Undertake self-directed research (utilizing manuscripts, archives, and digital sources).
6. Attend scheduled meetings, read assigned papers, and participate in discussions.

Proposed time requirement (%) for the student activities per 40-hour week:
Activity Percent of Activity
Faculty contact time

10

Self-directed study

10

Data collection/analysis

20

Other


Method of student evaluation

Check all that apply - complete appropriate section(s) only:
1.  Grading
   
A. Please specify your grading criteria for outstanding performance:
  Students must attend and actively participate in all required activities as determined by the course director. A final presentation will take place at the end of the course, followed by as 12-page paper summarizing the results of the project to be submitted at the end of the selective.

2.  Written Assignment (Homework, projects, notes, papers, abstracts, etc.)
A. Frequency of written assignment(s)
  At least two specimen narratives, and one 12-page essay (on any aspect of the course reading)
B. Type of written assignment
  Seminars or tutorials culminating in a research paper.
Basic science research plus documented written report.
Humanities, social sciences, biostatistical or epidemiological research culminating in a scholarly paper or written report.
Clinically-based written reports focusing on a basic science or humanities problem.
Journal club written reports
Grant proposals
Literature review
Oral presentation plus written report.
Other modality with a self-directed, scholarly research component culminating in a written report.
C. Format of written assignment
  Formal 12-page essay
D. Method of content selection (student-selected, assigned, relate to cases, etc.)
  Student selected

3.  Oral Presentation
  A. Frequency / duration of presentation(s)?
    Students will present their final projects (Stilled Lives narratives) in a forum of their peers (and invited faculty). The presentation will be done as a one-time event at the end of the project and should not exceed 40 minutes, followed by 10 minutes Q&A.
  B. Type and format of presentation
    See above.
  D. Assessment - Who assesses the student's presentation performance?
    Self-assessment   Peer assessment   Faculty assessment
  E. Method of content selection
    Student-selected topic   Assigned topic

4.  Professionalism
  What expectations do you have for the student to demonstrate participation in the elective (e.g. small group activities, seminars, thoughtful questions, providing resources, journal club, resident lecture attendance)?

The instructor will discuss principles of appropriate attribution and the referencing of literature with the student. The student is expected to understand and to adhere to the principle that all presented work must be solely the student’s own.

    All presented work must be solely the student's own. Any plagiarism is ground for failure of the course.

5.  Other Modes of Evaluation
  Please explain below.