Legacies of American Slavery in Medicine

Ideas for Teaching and Learning

Below are some ideas to get you thinking about what you want the students to know and do, how you will engage them, and how you will gauge their learning. More to come, but here are a few thoughts to get you started! 

If you want to learn more about how to use these materials in your course or to think through a pedagogical adaptation, don't hesitate to reach out to Amanda or Corinne. 

Backwards Design

Students will be able to:
  1. Explore medical humanities resources in order to develop background knowledge around the legacy of slavery in medicine. 
  2. Synthesize information from a variety of sources in order to understand how various disciplines contribute to the study of disease, health, and care.  
  3. Discuss the impact of slavery on medicine in order to understand underlying racism, sexism, genderism, and ableism in contemporary medical practices. 
  4. Critically reflect upon ideas encountered in medical humanities sources in order to identify ways to disrupt and dismantle white supremacist practices in care settings. 
  5. Collaborate with colleagues across disciplines in order to collectively address racist, sexist, genderist, and ableist practices in care settings. 
Scanning the Disciplinary Literature

Use the jigsaw method to survey an aspect of slavery of medicine from a variety of disciplinary viewpoints. Divide students into groups of 3-4.This is the main group. Assign each group a reading to dissect and discuss. Then reassign groups so one student from each main group is in a new group with 3-4 students who read different articles. Each student teaches their group about their article, coming up with questions for discussion for the large group. Debrief as a large group and discuss questions that arose. 

For more information about this technique see The Jigsaw Classroom

Visual Analysis 

Ask students to analyze art relating to slavery in medicine from their personal perspectives. Use a prompt to guide their reflection, then host a presentation and discussion around the piece and how it brings up personal and professional issues for the students. 

Engaging Metacognition 

Reflect on the legacies of American slavery in the contemporary medical system. What do find to be the most pressing issue? How do you think this issue will arise for you in your professional practice?

Reflect on your own values and ethical practices as a future healthcare practitioner. What actions do you hope to take in order to disrupt racism and sexism should you see it in your own practice? 

Creative Expression

Think about your topic and create a poem, piece of art, short story, video, collage, or something else that resonates with you to illustrate to an audience your learning. 

Collaborate with a Librarian!

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Rebecca van Kniest
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Subjects: Nursing

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