Guidelines for SOM Graduation with Distinction in Humanities/Arts

To be considered for graduation with distinction in humanities, the student must meet all of the following criteria:

• Body of work: “Body of work” refers to the production of a significant collection of creative accomplishment in the literary, visual, or performing arts.
• Originality: All work must be original.
• Relevance to medicine: All work must have either an explicit or an indirect connection capable of elucidation with some aspect of medicine (i.e., patient care, socialization into the medical profession, physician self-care, the medical school experience or the physician-patient relationship).
• Time frame: All work must have been produced during medical school.
• Quantity: The body of work should be substantive and represent a significant commitment of time and intellectual energy.
• Quality: The body of work will be reviewed by a committee comprised at minimum of  physicians and faculty with interest in the student’s chosen medium; and if possible a professor from a field relevant to the submission.
• Publication and prizes: While not required, in granting graduation with distinction in humanities, the Dean will consider favorably publication in professional journals and/or awards received from organizations and groups external to UC Irvine-SOM.

Contribution to the SOM community: “Contribution to the SOM community” refers to consistent student efforts to use the humanities and arts as a means of participating in and contributing to the SOM community. Examples of such contributions follow:

• Participation in the Anatomy course creative project option.
• Participation in Plexus as either an editor or a significant contributor
• Participation for at least 2 years in various humanities electives (i.e., the 1st year literature and medicine selective; the 2nd year reflective writing elective; the 4th year humanities research elective; the 4th year Art of Doctoring elective)
• Participation in the annual medical student Talent Show; the Winter Formal; Honors Night
• Development of a humanities-based patient-centered project through an outpatient clinic, the hospital, the Cancer Center etc.

Guidelines for SOM Medical Humanities Award

The Medical Arts and Humanities Award was established in 2000 to honor an outstanding graduating student who, over the course of his or her medical education, has created a body of original work in either literature or the arts that attempts to integrate the art and science of medicine, and in so doing, makes a contribution to the UC Irvine-SOM community. All SOM graduating students nominated by faculty, staff, or peers for graduation with distinction in humanities/arts are considered for this further recognition. The winner(s) are selected by a committee consisting of faculty from various departments in the UC Irvine School of Medicine based on the excellence of the work.