The Literature, Arts and Medicine Database (LitMed) is a collection of literature, fine art, visual art and performing art annotations created as a dynamic, comprehensive resource for scholars, educators, students, patients, and others interested in medical humanities. It was created by faculty of the New York University School of Medicine in 1993. The annotations are written by an invited editorial board of scholars from all over North America.

We define the term "medical humanities" broadly to include an interdisciplinary field of humanities (literature, philosophy, ethics, history and religion), social science (anthropology, cultural studies, psychology, sociology), and the arts (literature, theater, film, multimedia and visual arts) and their application to healthcare education and practice. The humanities and arts provide insight into the human condition, suffering, personhood, and our responsibility to each other. They also offer a historical perspective on healthcare. Attention to literature and the arts helps to develop and nurture skills of observation, analysis, empathy, and self-reflection -- skills that are essential for humane healthcare. The social sciences help us to understand how bioscience and medicine take place within cultural and social contexts and how culture interacts with the individual experience of illness and the way healthcare is practiced.

The site also includes a blog and resource section. Readers are also invited to join a LitMed list serve for those interested in posting resources related to the field.

Lucy Bruell, MS was appointed editor-in-chief on September 1, 2011. The original site was created by Felice Aull, Martin Nachbar, Karen Brewer, programming specialist Roy Smith, and then-medical student Irene Chen, '96. It is a project of the Division of Medical Humanities in the Department of Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. Database programming, design and technical support is provided by the Institute for Innovation in Medical Education (IIME) -- the multi-disciplinary development laboratory for application of information technologies to medical education at New York University School of Medicine.

Annotations are written by the editors--an invited group of scholars--and, in rare instances, by individuals working under their direct supervision. The editors choose the works they annotate because they have found them to be useful in Medical Humanities teaching or related projects, or because they have potential usefulness for teaching and scholarship in the Medical Humanities. We regret that we are unable to consider unsolicited contributions. We are open to suggestions for works not yet included.

New annotations are added regularly and can be accessed directly from the database home page, "What's New", which lists as "new" any material added during the previous 90 days. For more information about the database, contact Lucy Bruell at [email protected].

• Visual Art landing page images (left to right):

• Laura Ferguson
• Cerebrum, coronal view, with floating colors (large detail), 2012
• inkjet pigment print: composite of original drawings and 3D MRI/radiology scan
• 10” x 12 1/4”
• www.lauraferguson.net/
• © Laura Ferguson. Courtesy of the artist

• Pavel Tchelitchew (1898‐1957)
• Interior Landscape, 1946
• ink and watercolor on paper
• 13 3/4" x 10 3/4", signed and dated
• www.michaelrosenfeldart.com
• Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY

• Sopheap Pich (1971-)
• Buddha 2 (detail), 2009
• Rattan, wire, dye
• 100” x 29” x 9”
• www.trfineart.com
• © Sopheap Pich. Courtesy of the artist and Tyler Rollins Fine Art

• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
• The muscles of the shoulder (detail), c. 1510
• Brown ink and wash over black chalk
• 292 x 198 mm
• www.royalcollection.org.uk
• Windsor Castle, Royal Library

• Performing Arts landing page image:
• Axis Dance Company 2012
• Dancers: Emily Eifler, Sebastian Grubb, Joel Brown & Sonsherée Giles. In choreography by Amy Seiwert. Photo by David DeSilv.
• www.axisdance.org

The NYUSM and NYUHC's WWW pages aim to provide general information about the topics they present. They are not intended to make statements concerning the official policies and practices of the institutions unless stated otherwise. A considerable effort has been made in good faith to ensure that material accessible from this site is accurate. Despite this effort, it is clear that errors are inevitable. Consequently no guarantees are expressed or implied as to the accuracy, timeliness, currency or completeness of any information authored by persons at or agents of NYU or its affiliates, or accessible using links from this site. Nor is any warranty made that the information obtained from this site or that of an affiliate is valuable or useful for any purpose. A reader assumes full responsibility for any actions taken based on information obtained from this web site. In particular, we emphasize that the information available through this site should not be interpreted as medical or professional advice. All medical information, from this or any other source, needs carefully to be reviewed with your trusted health-care provider before being acted upon in any way. All opinions expressed here are those of their authors and not of their employer. Information provided is for medical education only. The appearance of external hyperlinks to other websites does not constitute endorsement. We do not verify, endorse, or take responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness or quality of the content contained in these sites.

The policies, requirements, course offerings, schedules, activities, tuition fees, and calendar of the school and its departments and programs set forth in this site are subject to change without notice at any time at the sole discretion of the administration. Such changes may be of any nature, including, but not limited to, the elimination of the school or college, programs, classes, or activities; the relocation of or modification of the content of any of the foregoing; and the cancellation of scheduled classes or other academic activities. Payment of tuition or attendance at any classes shall constitute a student's acceptance of the administration's right as set forth in the above paragraph.

The information resources of NYUSM and NYUHC are provided to facilitate the business of the School, the Hospitals Center and their Affiliates. Use of the information presented in these web pages is for the personal use of you, the individual reading the pages. Use of information from this site for commercial purposes, other than those approved by the School and Hospitals Center, is not permitted. Use of data, algorithms and conceptual information contained in the Biosketch and Research web pages is forbidden without permission from the authors and the NYUSM. Use of NYU, NYUSM or NYU Hospitals Center icons and logos is restricted: these icons and logos may not be used without the permission of NYU or the NYUHC. Use of US-mail addresses, E-mail addresses or phone numbers for the purpose of contacting individuals at NYUSM and NYUHC for any purpose other than the conduct of the business of the School, the Hospitals Center or its Affiliates is not permitted.

Unless otherwise noted, all documents accessed from this site are viewed as a precious resource of NYU and are Copyright, New York University, all rights reserved. Use of any data or other materials accessed from this site without the permission of the authors and the University may result in action being taken against offenders.