Arts in Medicine: 35 Years of Healing Through Art

One thing many patients have come to expect during treatment at UF Health Shands is the integration of art in their care. UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, or AIM, recently celebrated its 35th anniversary with “Continuum: Collective Works from Arts in Medicine,” an exhibit at the Gainesville Fine Arts Association Gallery.

Founded by pediatric oncologist John Graham-Pole, MD, and nurse Mary Rockwood Lane, PhD, RN, FAAN, AIM began as an effort to support staff working in the hospital units. Within a year, patients were incorporated into the program, and two artists joined the team to work at the bedside. Today, AIM has become an essential part of the patient experience at UF Health Shands.

The program offers a variety of creative outlets, including visual art, music, dance and more. The program has four visual artists, five musicians and its own weekly radio show, the Shift Change radio hour on WMBT 90.1 FM.

Among AIM’s team members are Kris Sullivan and Sarah Hinds. Sullivan serves as the senior operations manager and has been a part of the program since 2003. Hinds has been an AIM artistic practitioner since 2016. She helps facilitate the expression of patients through various forms of art.

When asked about why she thinks that the arts are such an important part of health care, Hinds responded, “I think art is a unique vessel for connection with others. I don’t know a patient for their diagnoses or their medical history when I visit them in their hospital rooms — I just know them as another human that might be interested in making art. When I meet a patient, I do not have any preconceived notions of what we will create together, and through that open-mindedness, we develop a project together and get to know one another.”

The current exhibition, “Continuum: Collective Works from Arts in Medicine,” explores the journey of UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine through art made by patients, their loved ones, UF Health Shands team members, former AIM artists and members of the community.

“We really wanted to showcase some of the patients who have been impacted by the program and have a unique voice,” Hinds explained.

One patient artist showcased in the exhibit is Theo Cooper, a heart transplant patient who developed an art style of double exposure polaroid photographs. He waited a very long time for his heart transplant; his art allowed him to define himself and create another identity other than a heart transplant patient.

Another patient showcased was Kinsey Bogart, who was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and cardiomyopathy before her first birthday. Unfortunately, her kidney transplant failed because she was misdiagnosed. Despite this, Bogart has found empowerment through the AIM program. Today, she is a well-known local artist, has a thriving social media following and has even published her own coloring book.

AIM continues to find new ways to uplift patients through projects and exhibits. Last year, the team made an album with patients called Warrior’s Path that included songs and stories from Sickle Cell patients at UF Health Shands.

When looking towards the next 35 years of AIM, Sullivan described some of the future goals of the program.

“We would really like to develop an arts prescribing program, where patients can be referred to us or community partners if they are experiencing loneliness or depression,” Sullivan said. “There’s strong research showing how beneficial the arts are for health and human connection. That’s holistic care, and we want to encourage it.”

Sullivan also hopes AIM will one day have a dedicated maker’s space and recording studio.

“An established space would affirm AIM as part of the patient culture at UF Health Shands and provide a consistent place for patients to create,” she said.

For 35 years, AIM has enriched patient care by fostering creativity and self-expression, and the program is committed to inspiring patients for decades to come.

Visit ArtsinMedicine.UFHealth.org to learn more about the UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine program and upcoming exhibits or projects.

View additional artwork featured throughout the “Continuum: Collective Works from Arts in Medicine” exhibit below.