Work

Reimagining medical education: integrating medical humanism and narrative medicine into a new educational paradigm

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Medical education has increasingly prioritized technological competence, often at the expense of humanistic values central to patient-centered care. Aims: This Mini Review examines how medical humanism and Narrative Medicine can be systematically integrated into contemporary medical education to rebalance technical expertise and humanistic care. Key findings: Current evidence suggests that Narrative Medicine enhances empathy, communication skills, professional identity, and ethical sensitivity. However, integration efforts remain fragmented and are frequently constrained by curricular overload, insufficient faculty preparation, and misaligned assessment systems. Conclusion: Embedding Narrative Medicine within core curricula, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration, longitudinal programs, and rigorous evaluation frameworks, offers a feasible pathway toward a more holistic and sustainable medical education paradigm.

Source: Frontiers in Medicine

DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1761177

Authors: Zhitao Hou, Jing Chen, Hongwei Guo

Institution: Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Empathy and Medical Education

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801