Greetings
from the Program in Medical Humanities at The University of Arizona College of Medicine. These are exciting times for our program, we've been growing and are proud to share some of our projects with you.

     This year our literary and visual arts journal, Harmony, published 80 works culled from hundreds. In its pages are poignant, stirring, and funny essays written by authors from every corner of the Arizona Health Sciences Center. There are also luminous black and white photos, paintings, drawings, and graphic arts renderings that would do any gallery proud.

     Our "Monday Movie Madness" club is entering its second year. Every other week (on Monday evenings) our students air and sometimes discuss provacative films over dinner and popcorn. Last year we viewed the War Tapes, Motorcycle Diaries, and Thank You For Not Smoking, among others.

     You may have heard about our Visual Arts request for proposals. Arizona health sciences dwellers have long bemoaned the paucity of art on our walls. This, despite Tucson's reputation for being a black and white photography Mecca. We've put out a modest call for proposals to attract photographers to produce a 14 foot by 14 foot installation.

     "Tuesday's with Donna" continues this year. Donna Swaim, a seasoned and gifted humanities professor brings poetry and essays for discussion and analysis to our students and staff.

     The Video Slam, a film-making project for second-year medical students has doubled in size this year. Students in the project make documentaries about patients with chronic illnesses. The project has attracted national attention - look for articles in the Chronicles of Higher Education and locally, on our PBS affiliate.

     This year we'll be starting a new feature, Spoken Word Events. At last year's Harmony Launch Party, a number of our authors read from their work. It was so successful that we are starting monthly cafe-style Spoken Word evenings.

     Our Speaker Series continues to flourish. Last year we heard from medical historian Kenneth Ludmerer and writer Fenton Johnson. This year National Public Radio Health reporter, Julie Rovner, will join us.

     As in past years, we will also assist the medical students with their mission statement, talent show, ethics day, willed body memorial service, and a variety of other projects.

     As you can see, these are exciting times for our program and we hope you'll use one or more of our various venues to explore and express!

Dan Shapiro, Ph.D.
Director: Medical Humanities Program