{"id":823,"date":"2015-04-01T16:04:35","date_gmt":"2015-04-01T15:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/medical-humanities\/?p=823"},"modified":"2017-08-08T19:57:43","modified_gmt":"2017-08-08T18:57:43","slug":"ayesha-ahmad-maslaha-workshop-for-medical-students-practical-implications-of-working-with-diverse-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/medical-humanities\/2015\/04\/01\/ayesha-ahmad-maslaha-workshop-for-medical-students-practical-implications-of-working-with-diverse-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Maslaha Workshop for Medical Students: Practical implications of working with diverse communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Narrative is an increasingly potent concept for medical educators; developed as a tool to un-cover the patient experience as well as to illustrate the nuances where empathy has a place to fill the gap between the patient and their doctor.<\/p>\n

Medical humanities, then, has an integral role for students learning how to become a doctor; and not just merely a doctor; but \u2018Tomorrow\u2019s Doctor\u2019 as envisioned by the General Medical Council.<\/p>\n

Narratives require that there is space especially within the clinical encounter to be expressed and received. Of course, medical practice elicits narratives containing some of the most significant elements of the human condition. As well as the narratives being diverse encompassing different beliefs surrounding the meaning of life, death, illness, and health, then, so are the narrators. This means that it is necessary for doctors to be trained in perceiving and receiving another person\u2019s story. This is a moral endeavour and also one of justice in the context of a healthcare system that is based on equality and non-discrimination.<\/p>\n

A recent initiative by Maslaha grasped the need for both understanding the patient\u2019s story and the practical implications of working with diverse communities in medical practice. Maslaha (which means \u2018for the common good\u2019 in Arabic) is a UK-based organisation working with communities to practically and innovatively tackle long-standing issues around inequality and social justice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A three-hour preliminary workshop was held at Kings\u2019 College London with 100 fourth year medical students. Structured as four breakout sessions in different locations on campus, each was led by a different facilitator from various disciplines and with a range of expertise\u2014from a professional actor and storyteller to an ex-offender.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The aim of each session was to explore a different practical aspect of working with diverse communities. The sessions were namely:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n