BSHS Selectives 2023-2024
Selectives Type:  Medical Humanities

Selective Title
Pediatrics Portrayed in the Media		 Course Number
PEDU-4109
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all Year 3 requirements
Responsible Faculty Director:
Cleavon Covington, MD, MS
Other Faculty:
 		Contact Information
Cleavon Covington, MD, MS 2.360E Research Building 6 clcoving@utmb.edu		 Periods Offered
1, 4-7, 10-13
excluding holiday period 8		 Maximum Enrollment
5

Learning Objectives
1. To apply ethical and legal principles as it relates to pediatric care
2. To deepen students' understanding of the emotional, psychological, and social impact of pediatric medical conditions on children and their families by analyzing fictional portrayals in media
3. To examine how various pediatric conditions are represented in popular media and how these portrayals can inform and influence healthcare professionals' clinical practice, patient interaction, and decision-making.
4. To foster critical thinking skills in students by analyzing and discussing media representations of pediatric care, identifying common misconceptions, biases, and the accuracy of such portrayals.
5. To prepare future healthcare professionals to recognize and address the emotional and psychological needs of pediatric patients and their families, inspired by real-world and media-based experiences.
6. Students will discuss the differences and similarities between the fictional portrayal of pediatric conditions and the realities of medical practice, including the challenges and limitations of media-driven narratives.
7. Students will reflect on how their views of pediatric care have been shaped by media portrayals and how these representations may impact their future careers in healthcare.

Describe the qualifications background and career goals or interests of students who would benefit from the course:
Students interested in pediatrics or specialties that participate in the care of children and adolescents.

Description of course activities
Students will meet with faculty at the beginning of the course for orientation. The class will meet once a week, virtually, to discuss the movies and readings assigned for the week. At the end of the course, each student will write a paper and give a presentation on a condition or subject covered during the course using a chosen movie, not assigned during the course, to illustrate their topic. The paper will be 2000-3000 words with a minimum of 3 references. The presentation will be 20 minutes long, with 10 minutes for group discussion.



Topics covered: Terminal illness, death and dying, child abuse and neglect, illiteracy, low socioeconomic status, ethics of organ donation, bullying, genetic conditions, mental health disorders.

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

20
Self-directed study

10
Data collection/analysis

10
Other watching films, reading assignments, preparation f

60

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 are expected to watch all films, complete the readings, and attend each session. They must be prepared to actively participate in the discussions. The paper and presentation must be completed satisfactorily as deemed by faculty.

2.  Written Assignment (Homework, projects, notes, papers, abstracts, etc.)
A. Frequency of written assignment(s)
  One written assignment at the end of the course.
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
  The paper needs to be 2000-3000 words with a minimum of 3 references covering a condition depicted or a subject matter depicted in the films examining how they are depicted compared to real life and how the film shaped their views of the condition or subject. They will pick a film that was not already assigned to view and analyze for this project.
D. Method of content selection (student-selected, assigned, relate to cases, etc.)
  Students may select the film with faculty approval

3.  Oral Presentation
  A. Frequency / duration of presentation(s)?
    One oral presentation at the end of the course.
  B. Type and format of presentation
    The presentation will be 20 minutes in length, with 10 minutes for group discussion. The presentation will be over their written paper described 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.
    Students are expected to be professional during discussions and presentations especially when opinions are different from their own. Students are expected to attend all sessions and be prepared to actively participate. Students are expected to uphold academic integrity in all coursework.

5.  Other Modes of Evaluation
  Please explain below.