Time Schedule:
James C Whorton
MHE 501
Seattle Campus
Philosophies and practices of the major alternative approaches to healing. Historical characterization of alternative medicine accompanied by presentations by practitioners of chiropractic, naturopathic, homeopathic, and traditional Chinese medicine. Credit/no credit only.
Class description
This class is designed to introduce students to the major systems of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in America. The subject will be explored through presentations by practitioners of acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, mind-body medicine, and naturopathic medicine. Class sessions will also be devoted to questions of evaluation of efficacy of unconventional treatments, and models for integrating complementary and conventional practice.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
It is graded Credit/No Credit; the only requirement is a 3 to 5 page paper (due at the end of the quarter) that presents your reflections on the role of CAM in the American healthcare environment.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Essay Assignment
The paper should be 3 to 5 pages in length (double-spaced), and should discuss the impact the class has had on your understanding of and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine. Are you more--or less--inclined to see value in the services of alternative providers? Do you see significant differences in efficacy between the various systems? Are there lessons for allopathic medicine in alternative practitioners' philosophy of health, natural healing, and patient relations? What place should complementary and alternative medicine have in the medical care delivery system of the future? How might integration be facilitated and paid for? What other issues need addressing?
This is NOT a research paper. You're free to read more if you like, but additional reading is not expected, let alone required. All that's requested is that you reflect upon class discussions and come to some conclusions about the significance of alternative medicine. Graceful writing is always appreciated, but if the muse fails to move you to Shakespearean eloquence, don't fret; you're not being graded on style. In fact, you're hardly being graded at all: since the class is Credit/No Credit, you can be certain of receiving the highest grade possible as long as you turn in an essay that shows you have given some serious thought to the assignment.
The paper is due by December 8. It may be turned in in class prior to that date, or delivered to the Department. of Medical History and Ethics, A-204 Health Sciences.
It is graded Credit/No Credit; the only requirement is a 3 to 5 page paper (due at the end of the quarter) that presents your reflections on the role of CAM in the American healthcare environment.
