In 2016, the University of Texas at Dallas’s Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History began an Art and Medicine resource collection website after the landmark Forum “The Art of Examination: Art Museum and Medical School Partnerships” sponsored by the O’Donnell Institute and hosted by MoMA in June 2016.

Embracing a more humanistic understanding of health and well-being is part of a new movement to improve physicians’ clinical training. By developing observation, critical thinking and communication skills, medical students relate these to diagnostic practices and their work with patients.

The use of original works of art from museum collections is a unique approach to engaging medical students, residents, physicians, and nurses in an innovative learning process. Medical schools are expanding their education programs by partnering with local art museums.

These resources are now housed at the Center for Visual Arts in Healthcare at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.