Seeing patients and life contexts: The visual arts in medical education

In many ways, the practice of medicine has been a visual science from the t ime of the early Renaissance anatomists to the high-speed scanners of today . But images of patients and their anatomical parts do not necessarily lead to an understanding of their problems. Meaning must follow the sensory exp erience and be coupled with reflection. The visual arts, therefore, can be used to help physicians in training increase their observational and interp retive skills. Works by classic and contemporary artists can be used to inc rease awareness of the complex nature of human beings and their conditions, which lie beneath the appearances. In addition to painting, television, mo tion pictures, and printed media may also be used in classroom settings to educate. Medical schools that do not have accessible fine arts or humanitie s programs may form allegiances with local artists to increase communicatio n and understanding between these disciplines.