Observation: the importance of art in medicine

Abstract

hrough the years as a lecturer, I have had puzzling times, mainly when I listened physicians, general practitioners, as well as specialists, express that Embryology is only a filtering course in basic sciences curriculum. Those moments have been the motivation for reflection and, as result, I have tried to address the need of competency development in first year medical students at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). For this, I have resorted to the use of pictorial art, in order to stimulate the development of observational skills.

The sequential analysis of artwork pieces is carried out establishing a dialogue with, and amongst, the students through provocative questions. The formative benefits of these exercises, aside from strengthening and sharpening their observational skills, lie on the sensitization and empathy development. Although the incorporation of visual arts has been one of the strategies that I have experimented with, as result of my reflection process, it is still necessary to assess the efficacy in the attainment of the benefits described by different authors, after the implementation of these class activities. ...

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