Cinemeducation

Highly Commended in the 2005 BMA Medical Book Competition, Cinemeducation: a comprehensive guide to the use of film in medical education provides the medical and graduate educator with an innovative and effective cinema-based curriculum useful for teaching a broad array of topics.

The book contains thirty chapters that address important areas in medical education such as chronic illness, disabilities, chemical dependency, cultural diversity, mental disorders, and the doctor-patient relationship.

It catalogues over 450 scenes from 125 popular movies on video and includes a rationale for the importance of the subject, a description of the movie and scene counter number for finding the scene, relevant trigger questions for leading group discussions, and related readings. An exhaustive appendix lists a host of additional movies relevant for teaching but not cited in the text.

Cinemeducation is a marvellous tool that is entirely user-friendly. Alexander, Lenahan, and Pavlov have captured an amazing array of significant small scenes from a large variety of films—cameos illustrating crucial moments and interactions. They have not only organised these scenes into topics that focus on individual and family life cycles, specific clinical entities, the doctor/patient relationship, and a variety of special populations, but they also provide specific discussion questions that can be used to help learners process the experience.

The range of films included is comprehensive, and with exact counter numbers provided, it simplifies the task for the medical educator to plan and present meaningful sessions. I know how hard it sometimes is to capture learners' attention and break through the reluctance to deal with uncomfortable situations. Using the material found in this volume, we will all have a much easier and more successful time. — Marian R. Stuart in the foreword