Medical Humanities Research Institute

Rice University

Our mission is to ensure that the humanity of patients is not lost as healthcare becomes increasingly technological. We do this by bringing the lived experience of communities into the design of health care, to redefine what counts as a good outcome and what is considered high quality care. We work with patients, clinicians, engineers, ethicists, social scientists and artists to address major global challenges that cannot be solved by science or technology alone. History: Launched in 2023, the Medical Humanities Research Institute builds on the success of our undergraduate program in Medical Humanities, the work of faculty across campus, and our ongoing collaborations with Texas Medical Center institutions. Since its inception in 2016, Medical Humanities at Rice has been a regional hub for interdisciplinary research in humanistic approaches to medicine, illness, and health. The program hosts a 50-member Health Humanities Research Group, the multidisciplinary Medical Futures Lab, a facilitated acceptance program to UT McGovern Medical School for Rice Humanities majors, and a 4+1 Master’s Rice-UT Public Health Scholars Program. MHRI is built on these strong networks across 16 Rice University departments, collaborations with approximately 60 faculty and staff in TMC institutions, and engagement with community organizations.