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Artful Medicine Symposium 2023

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Welcome to the MSSU Artful Medicine Symposium


 

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Click here to register.
Check out a retrospective of our first Artful Medicine Symposium in November 2022.

Art Symposium SpeakerBridging Medicine and Humanities


This symposium bridges Medicine and the Humanities. It aims to bring together the various disciplines within medicine and the humanities for collaborations toward new directions in Medical Education and the Humanities, Health Equity and the Arts, Art & Design Innovation in Medicine, Art of Diagnosis, Art & Humanities as Therapy, and Art & Medicine from a Historical Perspective. There will also be a session for Open Submissions.

The overriding goal of this symposium is to inspire new teaching methods and improve patient/ physician interactions through these collaborations.

This symposium is a presentation of ideas through current research by medical and humanities academics, researchers, professionals working in both fields, undergraduate and graduate student projects/ papers; roundtables; and expressive works of art.

We welcome contributions from any area of medicine, fine arts, and/ or the humanities. We especially encourage perspectives that probe cross- disciplinary intersections or invoke theories and methods from outside traditional approaches.

Altogether, the conference will feature presentations on the newest developments within medical humanities. 

The symposium will feature keynote speakers in the field of medical humanities presenting their current research and thoughts on new directions in the field.

 

Poster Session Winners 


The best faculty poster presentation: Dr. Rebecca Shriver, MSSU, Assistant Professor of History "Healing Europe: The Politics of Health & Wellness in Interwar European Federalists’ Activism

Undergraduate poster presentation winners:

1st place - Anjelina Humphreys, MSSU "Cheiloplasty and Palatoplasty as Functional Artwork"

2nd place -Eryn Wagoner, Tori Frazier, Amanda Johnson, and Chaney Platner, MSSU . Mentor -Dr. Lynell Gilbert-Saunders, Professor of Chemistry  "Mother of Modern Chemistry": Madame Lavoisier's Contributions to Art and Chemistry" 

3rd place -Prisha Jonnalagadda,  Rice University. Mentor -Dr. Mary E. Kollmer Horton, McGovern Center for Humanities & Ethics at the University of Texas Health, Houston McGovern Medical School "The Persistence and Evolution of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Schools"

 

Keynote address


1K3A0025.jpegRenée Nicholson, Director of the Humanities Center at WVU, specialist in narrative medicine, will present on Thursday, October 19th at the Cornell Complex for the opening reception. 

Renée Nicholson is a known and celebrated writer, educator, mentor and expert in narrative medicine. Since 2013, she has made significant contributions in teaching, service and research and has undertaken additional efforts in academic advising, fundraising, grant writing and cross-curricular integration. 

Nicholson’s interdisciplinary project, “The Value of Expressive Storytelling/Writing on Quality of Life,” funded in part by a Humanities Center grant, was a collaboration with WVU School of Medicine to capture the experiences of HIV patients in Appalachia. This project, as well as similar work with cancer patients in Appalachia, earned her the 2018 Susan S. Landis Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts at the West Virginia Governor’s Arts Awards and the 2019 Eberly College of Arts and Sciences’ Outstanding Public Service Award. She also is the 2020 Winner of the Nicholas Evans Award for Excellence in Advising (WVU). Her books include two collections of poetry,  Roundabout Directions to Lincoln Center and Post Script; a memoir-in-essays,  Fierce and Delicate: Essays on Dance and Illness; and co-editor of the anthology Bodies of Truth: Personal Narratives on Illness, Disability, and Medicine. 

In addition to her teaching and research, Nicholson has served as a board member for the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, chair of the fundraising committee for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra series at WVU, a member of WVU’s Campus Read committee, and assistant director and director of the West Virginia Writers’ Workshop. 

Nicholson received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from WVU and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Creating Writing from Butler University. 

 

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Angela N. Pierce, DC, PhD serves as the Assistant Dean of Whole Health Integration for Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, Arkansas. In this role, Pierce leads the development of curriculum surrounding whole health principles, self-care and student-led whole health innovation projects.Dr. Pierce works closely with other curricular leaders to merge the whole health principles of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being with medical humanities, the art of medicine, clinical settings, health-system science education, and community-health. Pierce is also a Chiropractic Physician and physiotherapist with expertise in the management of chronic pain through techniques involving manipulation, mobility, exercise, and other mind-body therapies. In addition, she is a stress- and pain-neurobiologist with a passion for functional and culinary medicine as well as promoting complementary and alternative approaches that enhance long-term health and well-being.

Previously, Pierce completed national fellowships in public policy and leadership and is Harvard-Macy Institute Health Professions Education Scholar. Pierce earned her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS and her Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Missouri Southern State University.

Dr. Pierce's presentation, "Harmonizing Art, Humanities, and Medicine: The Transformative Power of Arts in Medical Education, Whole Health, and Patient Care", will delve into the influence of the arts on health professions’ education, patient care, and student well-being. We’ll explore the historical and contemporary connection between art and medicine, including modern curriculum integration, and discover how art has been shown to enhance observation, empathy, and creativity. Moving to patient care, we’ll demonstrate how art contributes to better outcomes, stress reduction, and healing environments. Finally, we will emphasize the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration, showcasing successful partnerships and challenges that were overcome.  

 

Art of Diagnosis Panel Discussion


The foundation of all care and treatments lies in an accurate diagnosis. An incorrect diagnosis can result in incorrect treatments and undesirable outcomes. Diagnosing an illness is a complex art, necessitating the diagnostician to assume diverse roles.

Diagnosticians must encompass the attributes of a scholar, a detective, and an artist.

In this discussion, we will explore the intricacies of diagnostic reasoning, explore diagnostic processes from the perspective of a pathologist, and analyze the role of Visual Thinking Strategies in dental diagnoses.

image-6.jpgClinical Thinking: Using a Baysian Approach to Guide Our Thinking
Dr. Rob McNab, DO, FACP, FACOI, Dip ABLM

Dr. Rob McNab is a practicing internist in Joplin, MO. He is double boarded in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine. He has a passion for medical education and lifestyle medicine interventions. Dr. McNab is a 2002 graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience. He holds fellowships from both the ACOI and the ACP. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. McNab created McNab Wellness – a foundational care clinic in 2022. With a firmly held belief that healthy lifestyles are the foundations of good health, this practice collaborates with clients to optimize their health habits to attain their maximal health span and lifespan. Dr. McNab has been active in academia for greater than 10 years and serves as Vice President of Medical Education at Freeman Health Systems where he currently oversees training of over 50 resident doctors and 120 medical students. He has a passion for point of care ultrasound (POCUS) and serves as director of POCUS education for primary care residents and students. In his presentation he will explore a process of clinical thinking and diagnostic reasoning using a “Bayesian” process to help increase the accuracy when working with the uncertainties that exist in patient care. Discussion will focus on concepts such as: why clinical uncertainty exists; differential diagnoses and their role; differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 clinical thinking; applying pretest probabilities; using “confidence” to build confidence; the importance of hypothesis generation and testing, and much more.

 

 image-7.jpgUsing Visual Thinking Strategies to Teach Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Dental Education Dr. Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc Assistant Dean Curriculum and Integrated Learning

Dr. Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc graduated from Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine in 2015. She completed a 1-year GPR residency at a VA Hospital in 2016, a Dental Public Health residency in 2018, and a MMSc in Dental Education at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2019. She serves as the Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Integrated Learning at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine in Joplin, MO.

Emphasizing visual thinking strategies, discussion will include relating visual acuity with chairside screening and diagnosis in oral health care. Sample VTS images and cases related to patient diagnosis and treatment planning will be presented. Participants will learn to how to link VTS to their curriculum and clinical practice.

 

image-8.jpgArt, Observation and the Practice of Pathology
Dr. Robert Hillard, MD, Chair of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, Assistant Professor of Pathology

Dr. Robert Hillard received his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Missouri. He is an AP/CP trained pathologist with cytopathology subspecialty training who has practiced in private and corporate practice for over 8 years. He subsequently followed his passion for teaching and became a faculty member at Kansas City University (Joplin) in 2020. Currently, he serves as Chair of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences on the Joplin campus. His current teaching interests include clinical microbiology as well as cardiovascular, pancreatic, adrenal, parathyroid and gynecologic pathology.

Pathology requires careful observation of often subtle findings when assessing for pathologic conditions in gross specimens and at the microscopic level. Gross evaluation of specimens requires that physical characteristics of lesional tissue be appropriately evaluated in terms of pattern, color, consistency, size, and relationship to normal tissue. Microscopy requires both an interpretation of the overall picture and the ability to key in on specific details of individual cells and collections of cells. This session explores the intersection of art and observation when applied to the practice and discipline of pathology.

  session presentation schedule

 

Session Themes & Chairs


SESSION 1A: MEDICAL HUMANITIES CURRICULUM 

TIME: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH
LOCATION: PHELPS THEATRE
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. REE WELLS-LEWIS & PROFESSOR ELMIRA BAGHERZADEH

SESSION 1B: NARRATIVE MEDICINE #1 
TIME: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH
LOCATION: CONNOR BALLROOM 
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. BERNARD DE BONO & DR. DONNA JOHNSON 

SESSION 2: ART & MEDICINE FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE #1 

TIME: 2:00 PM-3:30 PM, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
LOCATION: CONNOR BALLROOM
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. ELIZABETH MORTON & DR. CHRISTINE BENTLEY 

SESSION 3A: MEDICAL EDUCATION & THE HUMANITIES 

TIME: 3:30 PM-5:00 PM, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
LOCATION: PHELPS THEATRE
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. AMBER MINTERT & DR. REE WELLS-LEWIS 

SESSION 3B: DESIGN INNOVATION IN MEDICINE 

TIME: 3:30 PM-5:00 PM, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
Location: CONNOR BALLROOM
SESSION CHAIRS: PROFESSOR ELMIRA BAGHERZADEH & PROFESSOR ED OUTHOUSE 

SESSION 4A: NARRATIVE MEDICINE #2 

TIME: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21ST
LOCATION: BILLINGSLY STUDENT CENTER ROOM 341
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. BERNARD DE BONO & DR. DONNA JOHNSON 

SESSION 4B: THERAPY AS PERFORMANCE 

TIME: 10:30AM-12:00PM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st
LOCATION: PHELPS THEATRE
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. REE WELLS-LEWIS & DR. CHRISTINE BENTLEY

SESSION 5A: ART & MEDICINE FROM HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE #2 

TIME: 2:30PM-4:00PM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21ST
LOCATION: CONNOR BALLROOM
SESSION CHAIRS: DR. ELIZABETH MORTON & DR. BERNARD DE BONO


SESSION 5B: HEALTH EQUITY & THE ARTS  

TIME: 2:30PM-4:00 PM, SATURDAY OCTOBER 21ST
LOCATION: PHELPS THEATRE
CHAIRS: DR. AMBER MINTERT & DR. DONNA JOHNSON 

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Schedule


 event schedule

Poster Presentation Schedule

Please let us know which events you would be interested in attending:

 Event poll

 

Conference Registration


Registration for the annual meeting is now open! 

Click here to register

Our 2023 Annual Meeting will be a great opportunity to grow your network of academic contacts, as well as your knowledge of the field. The conference will offer Early Bird rates, Regular rates, as well as a discounted rate.

Entire Conference Package

Thursday, October 19th 11:00 am - Saturday, October 21st 5:00 pm, 2023

 

   Faculty and Professionals   

KCU Faculty

 Students       MSSU Faculty & MSSU/KCU Students 

Regular Rates

(September 20, 2023)

$175 $87 $50 Free

*for online or in-person attendance

 

One Day Registration

 

   Faculty and Professionals   

KCU Faculty 

   Students    MSSU Faculty & MSSU/KCU Students   

Regular Rates

(September 20, 2023)

$70 $35 $20 Free

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MSSU art exhibit: Connecting the visual art and medicine (mssu show) 


The deadline for the art exhibit application is October 6, 2023. 

Art Exhibit application

 

Abstracts


Abstracts

Abstract Submissions will be available in May 2024 for next year's Artful Medicine Symposium.

Please contact  artfulmedicine@mssu.edu for additional information.

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MSSU Preferred Hotels


book your stay

Committee Members


To contact committee members, please email artfulmedicine@mssu.edu

Dr. Alla Barry, M.D., Conference Co-Chair, Professor of Biology & Environmental Health, MSSU

Dr. Christine Bentley, Ph.D., Conference Co-Chair, Professor of Art History, MSSU Spiva Director/ Curator, MSSU

Mr. Frank Pishkur, M.F.A., Professor of Art & Department Chair of Art & Design, MSSU

Dr. Amber Mintert, E.D., Associate Professor of Art/ Art Education, MSSU

Dr. Donna Johnson, DVM, Professor of Biology & Environmental Health, MSSU

Ms. Elmira Bagherzadeh, MFA, Assistant Professor of Art- Design, MSSU

Dr. Elizabeth Morton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Art History, Wabash College

Dr. Bernard de Bono, M.D., Ph.D., Honorary A/Prof of Bioengineering, University of Auckland

Dr. Ree Wells-Lewis, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, MSSU

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