Developing New Academic Programs in the Medical/Health Humanities: A Toolkit to Support Continued Growth.

Academic programs in the medical/health humanities have proliferated widely in recent years, and the professional, academic, and cultural drivers of this growth promise sustained new program development. In this article, we present the results of a survey sent to representatives of one hundred twenty-four baccalaureate and ten graduate programs in the medical/health humanities to assess the experiences and needs of existing programs. Survey results confirm the interest in and need for a descriptive toolkit as opposed to a prescriptive manual; indicate what data and materials are most needed to support the successful development of new academic programs in the field; and identify areas for future research.