Benjamin “Josh” Doty, Ph.D., St. Mary’s University Chair of the Department of English Literature

Benjamin "Josh" Doty
St. Mary’s University Chair of the Department of English Literature and Language, Associate Professor of English, Literature and Language

I've always appreciated that our Marianist charism encourages us to foster new ideas in response to a changing world. When my colleagues and I began discussing creating a Medical Humanities program at St. Mary's three years ago, conversations with students, faculty, and community partners made clear to us that the future of healthcare will require more than technical knowledge - it will require compassion, humility, and the ability to listen across the difference. Seeing these needs, and knowing that Marianist universities are tasked with educating to shape the future, we designed a major and a minor in Medical Humanities that approaches questions related to health, illness, and medical care from a holistic, humanistic standpoint. Students in the program will be prepared for careers in patient advocacy, law, and healthcare administration.

Designing this program was an act of faith in the continuing relevance of the liberal arts, especially when integrated with professional education. It was also a response to a growing need in Texas and our world for healthcare leaders who are as attentive to patients' dignity as they are to the demands of policy and medical practice.

In the spirit of Blessed Chaminade, we are embracing new methods - new programs, new partnerships, new paths for students - not for the sake of change itself, but to remain faithful to timeless and deeply held values.