UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine

05/26/2026

Staff who work in Emergency Departments are at an elevated risk for burnout and emotional exhaustion. 😮‍💨

Hand-drumming for 10-15 minutes before or after a shift won’t solve this important issue for our colleagues who work in the UF Health Adult ED, but it might offer a much-needed break from routine (or even encourage a new-found hobby) through one of humankind’s oldest stress relievers, hitting a drum! 🎶

Last week, Arts in Medicine hosted a hand-drumming workshop for the physicians, nurses, and non-clinical staff in the Adult Emergency Department. The goal was simple: come have fun, learn a bit about how to make certain sounds on the drums, and relieve some stress in the process.

Encouraged to stop by on their way out of work or on their way in, AIM musician Jahirah Williams led staff through a series of rhythm tutorials and song-writing techniques that inspired smiles and lots of laughter! 😄

05/26/2026

🎨🖌 Calling all local artists aged 18 and older!

Local artists are invited to enter 1-2 art pieces into the Adult Summer Art Show. Artwork may be submitted to any library location with a signed entry form. Entries will be accepted starting Monday, June 1.
https://tr.ee/ERjIqO

05/22/2026

Please join us in welcoming Molly MacLaren, LMT, to the AIM team! 💫

Molly brings a specialized approach to massage therapy to eligible patients here at UF Health Shands Hospital. Explore her story at the link below:

https://shands-aim-a2.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/about/whos-who/molly-maclaren-integrative-therapies-practitioner/

05/22/2026

The Criser Cancer Resource Center is closed Monday, May 25th, in recognition of Memorial Day. Arts in Medicine services will also be paused.

AIM wishes you a safe and creative Memorial Day weekend 🧡

05/21/2026

Bringing joy wherever they go, the Seniors on the Move dancers brought down the house at last week's Art After Dark event at the Harn Museum of Art! 🌟

Did You Know?
The Seniors on the Move group is comprised of Gainesville locals ages 50+ who meet regularly as a vibrant, supportive community. A Greater Duval Neighborhood Association program, their dedication to enriching their lives and supporting their health and wellbeing guided them to Arts in Medicine's dancer in residence, Shera Curtis, who now leads free, weekly creative dance classes for the group.

These Seniors not only participate in the warmups, choreography, and performances--they engage their own creative minds by offering dance moves and designing performance costumes. They actively collaborate to make each dance and each class uniquely their own! They are a shining example of collaboration in the community that supports a population of elders that otherwise may not have access to regular creative engagements. 💙

05/19/2026

Tomorrow!
Tune into AIM's weekly radio program, Shift Change Radio Hour, to hear a special show takeover from the recent Creating Healthy Communities: A Florida Arts in Health Forum!

Ways to listen:
📻 On the radio, Wednesdays from 6-7am and 6-7pm on The Wombat: WMBT 90.1 FM
📱 Online at wmbt901.com during the play times listed above.
🎧 On the AIM website, anytime (artsinmedicine.ufhealth.org)

05/18/2026

Happy Monday! What will you create this week?

05/15/2026

Dear Nurses, thank you for creating with us!! 🎨

During this year's Nurses Week, a button decorating activity brought UF Health nurses together to engage their creativity and reflect on what it means to be a nurse.

The AIM team created a 3x3" coloring page using the winning unit's Nurses Week art contest design (congrats again, Unit 5W!), which nurses colored in however they pleased. Then, our artists taught each nurse how to create their button using our button maker.

We hope you'll give a "nice job" or "thank you" if you see one of these buttons around the hospital! 💙

05/12/2026

When nurses engage in the arts, they are investing in their wellbeing! This investment directly translates to the care they offer their patients. 💙

Thank you to all the UF Health nurses who made time to get creative with our artists last week! Your open minds, creative spirits, and dedication to yourself and those you serve inspire us. 🎨

05/12/2026

ATTN UF Health nurses, will we see you at today's Nurses Week Soiree? 🥳

Join us in a fun, easy art-making activity: Make Your Own Button!
1-3pm in NT Room 6433 🎨

05/12/2026

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