Workshops at the museum to train tomorrow’s doctors

The Faculty of Medicine of Université de Montréal is joining forces with the MMFA in an innovative project: training future doctors through works of art. Complementing their hands-on classroom work, these workshop visits at the Museum allow medical students to hone their communication and clinical observation skills.

This unique program, initiated by Aspasia Karalis, Assistant Clinical Professor in Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine, consists of three workshop visits at the MMFA and is offered to some 350 first-year medical students from the university’s Montreal campus. These immersive learning activities take place at the Museum, under the joint leadership of 50 professors of medicine and about 10 professional mediators from the MMFA.

Based on the methodology of Visual Thinking Strategies, they combine workshops on the art of observing, interpretive exercises and reflection activities on three themes: Connecting With People, The Other Person’s Perspective and Ways of Life. The program fosters the development of active listening and empathy, and awakens them to diverse perspectives during group artwork observation activities.

“The Museum offers a wonderful learning environment, complementary to classrooms and healthcare settings. Our workshops, designed around works from our rich collection, enable students to develop observation and communication skills that are essential to a sensitive and empathic medical practice,” states Mélanie Deveault, Director of Learning and Community Engagement, and the Ariane Riou and Réal Plourde Chair for Art and Education in Service of the Community at the MMFA.

A sister project – on which the MMFA has lent its expertise – has also been set up for 50 medical students from UdeM’s Mauricie campus, in collaboration with the Centre d’exposition Raymond-Lasnier in Trois-Rivières.