As an outgrowth of the former COM Chamber Music Group, the COM Artists Group seeks to provide student led therapeutic art activities within the clinical setting, as well as enriching art related programming for our peers. Oxford American Dictionary defines art as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination.” We think that’s a pretty good starting point. Where does expres
sion of creative skill fit in with the practice of medicine? Would you explain a treatment to a pediatric patient the same way you would to a 55 yr old patient? How will you respond and provide the highest quality of patient care to a patient with a strong distrust of physicians and who places a high value on alternative medical therapies? Have you noticed that your classmates, your faculty, and patient population do not all share the same gender, race, age, religion, and cultural background as you? Appropriately explaining medical concepts to both pediatric and adult patients requires the physician to have an appreciation of varying perspectives and how to best elicit understanding and appropriate behavior given how that patient experiences her world. Displaying familiarity with other medical practices can both engender patient trust and better inform the physician of how to treat her patient. And don’t forget that being part of a diverse community affords you the opportunity to learn and experience practices outside your norm. The UIC COM Artists Group seeks to create an environment where students are both motivated and free to learn about the world of human expression; where students are encouraged to apply their creativity in various media, with each other, with faculty and staff, with patients, and with the community; and most importantly, where students can have fun and take a break from traditional medical school curricula.
