The Center for Visual Arts in Healthcare turned 1!
Photo by Adi Goldstein
Created in September 2022, we are celebrating our 1 year anniversary as a Center and it has been an exciting year. We’ve delivered over 135 programs for more than 1500 healthcare providers. We worked with medical students, residents, fellows, and senior clinicians across Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in addition to some neighboring hospitals. We’ve delivered workshops for clinicians in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass Art Art Museum, and the Harvard Art Museums.
Harvard Art Museum spring 2023 workshop
Clinicians across BWH have been curious and enthusiastic about the role the visual arts can play in training and professional development. I am grateful for the connections that continue to grow simply by word of mouth about these programs. One amazing group of healthcare providers I was able to work with this year were nursing residents and their leadership from Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). I am thankful to the DFCI nursing resident leaders for making the time and space for these residents to participate in a workshop at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on a sunny day in October.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Nursing resident department outside the
MFA, Boston
Both the nursing resident leadership and the residents came to the museum for a two-hour session that focused on discovering essential skills of a novice oncology nurse through visual arts. This included teamwork, empathy, cultural responsiveness, and adaptability. We visited three different galleries in the museum and the discussions ranged from considering multiple perspectives to thinking about end-of-life care for their patients.
Sarcophagus rim with animals and warriors, Greek, about 530–500 B.C., MFA Boston
The group was thoughtful and reflective about their work and the patients they care for daily. When asked what they might take away from the program, responses included:
How people can look at the same thing whether that’s art or medical and have a different opinion or see it from a different angle. -DFCI Nurse
Taking time to see beauty in everything. Being confident to share my thoughts and allow space for others to share theirs. - DFCI Nurse
Visual Thinking Strategies discussion with Oscar Kokoschka, Two Nudes (Lovers), MFA, Boston
I will have the opportunity to work with Dana Farber nursing residents again in December, which I hope will be an ongoing partnership with this wonderful team providing vital patient care.
Collaborative drawing activity with David Smith, Cubi XVIII sculpture at MFA, Boston
In addition to expanding workshops for clinicians across BWH, we’ve launched several research studies. We hope to share the results of those studies later in 2024. I am thankful for the research guidance and partners that have been a part of these studies, especially Joel Katz, MD, Dominique Harz, DMD, Stephanie Cohen, MD, Celeste Royce, MD, Ingrid Ganske, MD, Truelian Lee, HMS student and Ruby Guo, HMS student.
Finally, a shout-out to our 19-person Advisory Committee. We have called on each of them to help in one way or another since the Center started and appreciate the expertise, advice, and wisdom they have shared as we develop the Center.
Stay tuned to see what year 2 brings for the Center for Visual Arts in Healthcare! If you have a story or program you’d like to share on the intersection of arts and health for our blog, please let us know.
Brooke DiGiovanni Evans
Director of Visual Arts Education, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Visual Thinking Strategies discussion with Nina Chanel Abney, Four Stops, Harvard Art Museums