“At a time when the pace and acuity of medicine has forced the suspension of intellectual curiosity, your ArtMed program is a welcome insertion to the daily lives of residents and faculty alike. For a profession that prides itself on the “art” of medicine, the long cherished attributes of looking, listening, and examining are being lost. Your use of art to value those human tools is a great asset to any residency program. I know that those who have participated in the program in the Department of Medicine at MGH feel their capacity for reflection has been greatly enhanced. You should be proud of your program and its achievements. I know I am.”

“Very interesting and I think it’ll make me a better doctor.”

“Your class was taught masterfully. You allowed us to think and grow with each session. You challenged us but were always supportive and encouraging. Your love and mastery of the material is obvious and is an inspiration. Thank you so much for bringing your teaching to our students and for allowing me to participate in the group. It truly enriched the last few weeks of my life and I know the students have benefited from it.”

“Looking at art made me realize that the patients I see are all works of art in a way. We have to appreciate what we see – the beauty, the ugliness, the ambiguity.”

“In addition (to a series of workshops), Ms. Willieme facilitated and led three to five visits each year to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. I participated in these sessions. The emphasis was on careful analysis of the visual images as well as discussion of the artist’s life, the historical context, and the subjective responses of the participants to the material. I can attest from personal experience that these sessions were truly outstanding.”

“Your presentation today was absolutely wonderful, replete with the richness of your vast knowledge and love of art, and the enthusiastic and interactive responses of those in attendance. In this presentation, and in all of the others, you have opened up channels of understanding and perception in all those who have had the good fortune to partake of your expertise.”

“They (the sessions) enhanced my observational skills because they made me sit down and observe! Once doing so all kinds of insights/observations followed.”

“I don’t know if I had clear goals, but this course definitely exceeded my expectations. I learned a lot about perception and observation, but also so much more. I learned to use journaling to further explore my thoughts and developed a much greater appreciation and enjoyment of art and drawing.”

“I think it forced me to step back and see the humanity element of medicine. Loved the class!.”

“I am more aware of how my own experience affects what I perceive. I feel so much more aware and curious of the unknown. I feel like my perception is now so much more open and ready for new experiences.”

“ loved the photograph of the tree and road that was upside down. It was a mind-bending example of how we cling to familiarity and how puzzling a familiar scene can be if presented in an unfamiliar way. This is particularly relevant in medicine given our tendency to act based on experience in medicine, which can sometimes cloud our ability to see things in a new perspective.”

“I really appreciated the different perspectives my classmates contributed and I want to bring that more into my work as a physician. I hope to create a space where other people feel comfortable sharing different points of view.”