Background: Art in Medicine is an ongoing project connecting the dots between the fields of humanities and medical sciences. Historically, these seemingly disparate realms of study were closely entwined. Physicians of the past also delved into philosophy, visual arts, literature and languages.Today, studies proclaim links between the arts in preventing burn-out in healthcare workers, sharpening visual assessment skills and bolstering empathy. This project seeks to distribute this fascinating information to the local healthcare community, foster creative projects and broaden awareness of the health humanities field as can be applied to a hospital setting.
Description: Starting as a small visual display, the initial goal of this project was to test the interest in the humanities within a hospital. Each month a new topic is showcased, be it a single work of art, a broad topic, historical or mythological figure. Past subjects include: Avicenna’s texts on medicine and poetry, Greek goddesses of healing and their enduring symbols, Rembrandt’s “The Anatomy Lesson”, and the visual evolution of witches and their connection to female healers. Expansion of this monthly display comes in the form of a LibGuide. Information on art therapy, medical history, resources to health humanities publications and podcasts are updated monthly. Eventually, an annual publication produced by the Ascension Library department would highlight the artistic works of our employees in the visual arts, written pieces and crafts.
Conclusion: There is no set end to this project, it was conceived as open-ended. As associates give feedback, insight and inquire, the project will grow. With a goal of highlighting global art, as well as local institutions, there is an overflowing font of knowledge to pull from. Having worked on this project since August of 2020, it has been fascinating to see how it has generated discussion and interaction with hospital associates. This in turn has encouraged a more relaxed environment in the library, where patrons are more comfortable asking for materials and conversing with the librarian.
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