Oakhill Study Group

The Oakhill Study Group is for students on the intercalated BA Medical Humanities course, and meets every two weeks during term time. 

The purpose of the group is to:

  • support you in studying the main units;
  • help forge links between the medical humanities and clinical medicine;
  • provide a safe forum for your personal and artistic development;
  • introduce you to novel applications of the arts in health care;
  • help you in your professional development as a communicator and teacher.

The work of the group is informal and is not formally assessed. You are encouraged to keep a portfolio of your work, and to keep a written record of your progress, helping you with self- and peer-assessment and feedback throughout the course.

Activities

The Oakhill Study Group offers a varied programme of activities that bring together medicine, the arts, humanities, and wider society. Students have the opportunity to take part in exhibitions, seminars, creative projects, public engagement activities, cultural visits, and collaborations with community organisations.

Projects have included

  • The Medicine360 homepage - formed out of a collaborative project with graduates from the intercalated BA in Medical Humanities and now home to a range of resources and articles which support the programme
  • Working with Arnos Vale Cemetary for the Wellcome Trust funded 'Matters of Life and Death' project which involved an exhibition of creative work.
  • Theatre Performances such as 'Performing the Freak',
  • A Medical Humanities Festival, Bodies. This has given students the opportunity to organise an event and work with speakers such as Rachel Clarke, Henry Marsh and Kat Lyons.
  • Visits to MusicSpace Bristol, and the Jenner Museum,
  • Berkeley; a series of mini-debates (chaired by Emeritus Professor Gareth Williams, the ex-Dean of Medicine);
  • Visits by guest speakers and seminars with doctors working in the medical humanities in Japan;
  • Working with illustrators on Graphic Medicine projects
  • Annual exhibitions at the People's Republic of Stokes Croft's The Space.

These experiences encourage students to explore healthcare from different perspectives and engage with important social, cultural, and ethical questions. The Study Group also provides opportunities for students to develop skills beyond their academic studies, including event planning, public engagement, communication, teamwork, and creative practice.