Page 16 - Layout 1

ART AND
MEDICINE
continued from page 15
tute of Art History, Art and Medicine website at
www.utdallas.edu/arthistory/medicine.
The Power of Art
Can looking at an Etruscan sarcophagus, a portrait by American
painter John Singleton Copley, or an abstract painting by Franz
Kline change the way medical students see and develop their empa-
thy their patients? Can reflection, meditation and creative writing
on works of art enhance understanding and observation skills, and
develop an understanding of cultural difference and compassion for
their patients?
Observation, visual inspection, with interpretation and verbal
communication of one’s findings are essential skills in medical prac-
tice. Through the active practice of looking and communication
through art; engaging in collaborative meaning-making; exploring
connections between art-viewing and the physical exam; learning
and reflecting metacognitively on their own looking process; the
medical students learn about clinical diagnosis in a variety of situa- to observing and treating patients. Favorite features of the class in-
tion, settings and disciplines.
The following descriptions of classes and programs provide exam-
ples of partnerships and pedagogy that engage medical schools and
art museums in these initiatives. The Edith O’ Donnell Institute of
Art History, The University of Texas at has developed a resource of
the Programs and encourages new submissions biannually. Please
16 San Antonio Medicine • July 2017
see: https://www.utdallas.edu/arthistory/medicine/#resources. The
following summaries have been drawn from the program descrip-
tions that the medical schools and museums have provided.
The UT Health Science Center, Center for Medical Ethics and
Humanities and the McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, TX offers
Art Rounds, an interactive, inter professional course that takes UT
San Antonio Medical students to the McNay Art Museum to learn
physical observation skills. Using artwork as patients, students will
learn how to observe details and how to interpret images based on
available evidence. Taught jointly by UTHSCSA faculty and McNay
Art Museum educators, students will view, observe, interpret, and
give case reports on works of art. Studies demonstrate that these
skills translate to improved patient physical observation skills. The
two-hour classes are offered with 4-5 sessions at the McNay Museum
and 3-4 lectures at UTHSC. The Sessions at the McNay focus on
observing physical qualities of objects; communicating effectively
with peers about observations; recognizing and discussing ambiguity
in interpretations; and applying observation skills with works of art
clude: 1) Art Patient — pairs of students are assigned an art patient
(work of art in the McNay Collection) to visit each time they come
to the museum. 2) Differential Diagnosis — students create a dif-
ferential diagnosis based on portraits in the McNay collection.
3)Creative Response — Inspired by their art patient (a work of art