Many do not see the connection
between art and medicine. However, in academia, universities like John Hopkins
School of Medicine offer a degree of Master of Arts in Medical and Biological Illustrations.
This specific degree focuses on giving students the skills needed to produce
detailed illustrations of the human body using the most recent technologies. The
media produced by such a degree has a huge variety and include: illustrations, 3D
models and animations that service the medical, research and publishing
communities (John Hopkins School of Medicine).
Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, Galleria dell' Accademia, Venice (1485-90)
The earliest illustrations used for medical purposes begin as far back as 1485.
In an interview conducted by WRIC, James
Abraham claimed “[a]ll the doctors and surgeons love medical illustrators”
because they bring to light through a visual representation of their work on
the human body. These students with their degrees not only use their art to highlight
the work of current medical practitioners, but also to educate future medical
personnel. They highlight the intersection of art with medicine where the art
produced is highly valued beyond the visual appeal. The art created is used to
benefit the human condition.
This video depicts a 3D model of a human body and a person attempting to correctly identify different parts. It reflects the ability of the art form to education the medical community.
Art through illustrations enable
better teaching and evaluation of health. Furthermore, medical schools now believe
that “students with more “right brain” qualities–related to imagery,
visual and drawing skills–have begun to emerge as more successful” (Glatter).
Schools believe that students who have the visual skills derived from the artistic
part of the mind bring more to their performance as potential doctors because
of the growing field of visual media that is engrained in medicine. These students
tend to exhibit greater understanding and comprehension of the imagery that is
traditionally thought to be skills reserved for artists. In a sense, medical
schools believe their students will be better doctors if they have a wider
array of skills and knowledge, especially those generally thought to be artistic
and not scientific.
Paolo Mascagni, Anatomical Illustration. Credit: Wellcome Library, London
Although more of an artistic piece, this depicts the potential detail that art used for education can be.
Abraham, James. "Richmond
Man’s Contribution to Medical Research Could Change Lives." Interview. ABC.
WRIC Newsroom, 6 July 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
Glatter, Robert. "Can Studying
Art Help Medical Students Become Better Doctors?" Forbes. Forbes
Magazine, 20 Oct. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic
Oath Today." PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine
Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
"Visualizing Science and
Medicine." Art as Applied to Medicine. John Hopkins School of
Medicine, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
I like your blog illustrating the connection between medical science and art in a fresh and interesting angle: from the specific degree that provides medical students with art skills to the preference of doctors and surgeons to visualize their work in "art form" , and from the usage of art to better educate medical personnel to schools' belief of the capability of those with artistic mind, the discussion aims at the social needs for the combination of art and medical science, and thus proves not only the existence but also the significancy of their connection.
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