Quick facts
When: November 14, 2024
When exactly: 2pm-3pm Eastern time
Where: Zoom. Register here
Who: Dr. Michael Corman
BIG IDEAS SERIES
The McNally Project “Big Ideas” series invites scholars to share bold, innovative concepts and groundbreaking solutions to pressing issues in paramedicine. These talks aim to challenge conventional thinking, spark new discussions, and inspire action by addressing complex problems from fresh perspectives. Speakers draw on their expertise, research, and forward-thinking strategies to present ideas that have the potential to drive significant change and innovation in paramedicine.
SESSION TITLE: Blues run the game – The bio-psycho-medico model and the promise of medical sociology
DATE and LOCATION: November 14, 2-3pm Eastern time
REGISTRATION: Registration is free. Register here. The meeting link will be emailed directly. Registration closes: Nov 12
DESCRIPTION: In this presentation, Dr. Corman draws on his two decades of research exploring how sociology can provide valuable insights into the challenges faced in modern healthcare, specifically paramedicine. He critically examines what he refers to as the “tyranny of the bio-psycho-medico” model—a framework that dominates much of healthcare and education, including paramedicine training. He argues that this model, while essential, tends to overlook broader social, economic, and systemic factors that influence practice, patient outcomes and the well-being of healthcare providers. He argues that by focusing too narrowly on individual-level medical and psychological interventions, paramedicine is likely to miss opportunities to identify and attend to the root causes of health issues. Dr. Corman encourages paramedics, educators and system leaders to think upstream, addressing not only the immediate needs of patients but also considering how social determinants of health impact care. He advocates for a shift toward more comprehensive approaches in paramedicine practice and education that incorporate sociological insights.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Critically analyze the benefits and limitations of the “Bio-Psycho-Medico” framework in paramedicine, particularly in patient care and practitioner well-being.
- Understand the role of social determinants of health and structural competency in Paramedicine.
- Challenge conventional paramedicine education and training models.
SPEAKER BIO: Dr. Michael K. Corman, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the School of Culture, Media, & Society at the University of the Fraser Valley, British Columbia. He also holds a permanent academic appointment at Northern Lakes College, where he teaches in the paramedic and university studies programs. His teaching and research encompass a broad range of topics at the intersection of sociology, health, and illness. Dr. Corman’s work has been published in Social Science & Medicine, The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Perspectives on Medical Education, Social Theory & Health, Symbolic Interaction, The Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Qualitative Health Research, and the International Journal of Educational Research, among others. His book, Paramedics on and off the streets: Emergency medical services in the age of technological governance, was published by the University of Toronto Press in 2017.
