A public voice cultivating empathy & critical thinking in health, culture & the arts

The Medical Humanities Review ➔

A public voice cultivating empathy & critical thinking in health, culture & the arts for a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Even the Gods Cannot Save Odysseus from PTSD

Even the Gods Cannot Save Odysseus from PTSD

The story of The Odyssey is many things, not the least of which is a story of post-traumatic stress disorder. 

ByKit Neikirk 09.28.26
Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood 

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood 

Atwood’s retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest unfolds in an unlikely setting. 

Against Medical Nihilism Through Perseverance and Humility with Dr Ross Upshur

Against Medical Nihilism Through Perseverance and Humility with Dr Ross Upshur

Medical nihilism questions medicine’s uncertainty, treatment breakthroughs, and how we make thoughtful health care decisions.

The Buried City: Unearthing the Real Pompeii by Gabriel Zuchtriegl

The Buried City: Unearthing the Real Pompeii by Gabriel Zuchtriegl

Pompeii reminds us that mass casualties are a terrifying yet constant feature of human existence 

This month we focus on the nexus of and interface between medicine and the humanities.

Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya

Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya

Blending memoir and criticism, Sarah Chihaya’s Bibliophobia explores depression, identity, and the perilous yet healing power of books.

ByGuy Glass 09.30.25
Pushback: Mary Fissell looks back at 2500 years of abortion history

Pushback: Mary Fissell looks back at 2500 years of abortion history

A sweeping new history examines how societies across millennia have regulated, resisted, and reshaped access to abortion.

ByNancy Novick 12.11.25
Feeling Dementia from the Play, The Father

Feeling Dementia from the Play, The Father

Florian Zeller’s The Father immerses audiences inside dementia, transforming theatrical disorientation into visceral understanding and empathy.

Ward No. 6 by Anton Chekhov

Ward No. 6 by Anton Chekhov

A powerful story of disillusionment, *Ward No. 6* explores suffering, detachment, and the psychological toll of a life without meaning.

ByJack Coulehan 03.11.25
Being Reasonable: The Case for a Misunderstood Virtue by Krista Lawlor

Being Reasonable: The Case for a Misunderstood Virtue by Krista Lawlor

A compelling philosophical exploration argues that reasonableness, not mere rationality, is essential for human relationships and society.

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney 

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney 

Children’s literature offers a lens into public perception and experience of childhood infectious diseases as we face a resurgence of these same…

ByGretl Lam 07.28.26
Aging as Destiny 

Aging as Destiny 

A provocative novel about aging, mortality, agency, risk, and the uncertain bargains we make with destiny.

Rethinking Mental Illness: Interview with Dr. Gavin Francis

Rethinking Mental Illness: Interview with Dr. Gavin Francis

In his chair at the clinic, Dr. Gavin Francis sees the mind as much less fragile than the…

ByRudy Malcom 07.14.26
Meet the Medhum Team: Dr. Tony Miksanek

Meet the Medhum Team: Dr. Tony Miksanek

Writer, runner, and medical humanities advocate explores storytelling, trust, vulnerability, and the human side of care.

ByDave Hsu 06.26.26
Against Medical Nihilism Through Perseverance and Humility with Dr Ross Upshur

Against Medical Nihilism Through Perseverance and Humility with Dr Ross Upshur

Medical nihilism questions medicine’s uncertainty, treatment breakthroughs, and how we make thoughtful health care decisions.

AIDS in the Comics: The Graphic Memoir Taking Turns with MK Czerwiec

AIDS in the Comics: The Graphic Memoir Taking Turns with MK Czerwiec

A nurse’s graphic memoir reveals the human stories, suffering, and compassion behind the AIDS crisis.

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The Medical Humanities Review

Cultivating empathy & critical thinking in health, culture & the arts


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