1. University of Connecticut Department of Family Medicine
Movies and Medicine: Using Film to Reflect on The Patient, The Family and Illness
Catherine M. Weber, PhD
Hugh Silk, MD
University of Connecticut
School of Medicine
Department of Family Medicine

2. Agenda Introductions/Objectives Survey Describe our Elective
Lessons from our Elective
Practical Tips
Group Discussion
Conclusions

3. Learning Objectives
As a result of attending this presentation, participants will be
able to:
view films with students and participate in discussions with a guided approach to derive an understanding of how illness affects not only the patient but the entire family
utilize journals, written assignments, and presentations for evaluation within a film elective
create their own elective in exploring family and illness through film
discuss ways in which they see film being useful as a teaching tool

4. Audience Survey
What are you doing in your school presently for humanities curricula?
Is anyone using film, video clips, television programs?

5. Movies and Medicine: Our elective

6. Elective Goal
Through the viewing of and discussion about various carefully chosen films, students will gain an appreciation of the many issues that face a patient and his/her family when an illness is present

7. Elective Objectives The student will be able to:
view films with a guided approach to derive an understanding of how illness affects not only the patient but the entire family
participate in discussions about a series of medical issues related to how illness affects the family (eg. substance abuse, caregiver burnout, death and dying)
reflect in a weekly journal on the films they have seen and their own experiences with patients and their families
reflect on a film of their own choosing which deals with a medical related issue and how it affects the family through a written paper and a fifteen minute presentation to the group

8. Movies and Medicine Logistics:
Open to 1st and 2nd year medical students
4 credit course (students must complete 12 elective credits prior to the start of third year)
Minimum enrollment 5; Maximum 10
Five-two hour sessions held every other week
One additional, longer session for student presentations

9. Teaching and Learning Activities
Each session includes:
A discussion of two films (students view films on their own time, not in class)
“Questions to ponder” provided by faculty
The students’ reflection on what this theme means for patients and their families
Students offering examples from their own clinical experiences in Student Continuity Practice or other settings where they have dealt with similar issues

10. Themes and Movies The Family and Illness The Straight Story
Lorenzo’s Oil
Other suggested optional films: A Beautiful Mind, The Good Mother, Wit

11. Themes and Movies The Family and Loss Ordinary People
Barbarian Invasions
Other suggested optional films: Stepmom, In the Bedroom, A Death in the Family, The Door in the Floor, The Crossing Guard

12. Themes and Movies The Family and Caregiving Marvin’s Room Iris
Other suggested optional films: One True Thing, Dominic and Eugene, Rain Man

13. Themes and Movies The Family and Substance Abuse
When a Man Loves a Woman
The Days of Wine and Roses
Other suggested optional films:
A River Runs Through It

14. Themes and Movies Extended Family Flawless My House in Umbria
Other suggested optional films: The Sweethereafter, Garden State, Simon Birch, Beaches

15. How We Evaluate Students
Participation in each discussion session
Final paper: 5 pages on a film of the student’s choosing on any theme related to the patient, family and illness.
15 minute presentation on the film discussed in the final paper
Weekly journal entry on each film viewed

16. How Students Evaluate Us
Student Insights:
“I realize that illness has a bigger impact on the family than I previously thought and that in order to treat the patient well, you have to see how the family is structured.”
“These movies and discussions helped drive home the fact that patients entire lives are often altered by illness and that what we may see in the office or clinic is just the tip of the iceberg.”

17. How Students Evaluate Us
Student Insights:
“I’ve definitely learned that for each patient, they will bring their own story with their own idea of what family is. Illness of a loved one is extremely complicated and will ultimately have a huge impact on the family.”
“I never realized how illness not only takes over the life of the patient, but that of the family as well.”

18. Lessons from Our Elective

19. Lessons from Our Elective
Students’ favorite aspects of the course:
“Just being able to discuss different aspects of each movie and hear everyone’s different perspective – it helped me consider viewpoints other than my own.”
“The relief it offered from our everyday studies.”
“How open and comfortable the discussions were – I was able to get so much more out of each movie just by listening to others.”

20. Lessons from Our Elective
Students’ least favorite aspects of the course:
“That it wasn’t a longer course!”
“Hunting down some of the harder to find movies.”
“Final presentations ran too long.”
“The week we forgot to bring snacks!”

21. Lessons from Our Elective
Films that worked especially well, in order of favorable student comments:
Lorenzo’s Oil
When a Man Loves a Woman
Barbarian Invasions
Films that students didn’t find as engaging:
Straight Story
My House in Umbria

22. Lessons from Our Elective
Additional films students suggest for use in the course:
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Finding Neverland
My Left Foot
Philadelphia

23. Lessons from Our Elective
Practical tips
Can’t watch entire film in class – too time consuming
Faculty time commitment (selecting and watching films, preparing questions, reading journals and papers, extra session for presentations)
Final presentations can get a bit too long – need to be time taskmasters

24. Group Discussion Film clips vs. full length films
Film elective vs. using films within a core course
Film suggestions
Other ideas?

25. Thank you!
Evaluation -- Please provide us with your thoughts on today’s presentation