Art can support healthcare providers by boosting their skills and emotional awareness. Engaging in art enhances observation and empathy, key qualities for patient care. Here are three ways making art fosters a more compassionate approach to healing.
Engaging with storytelling in literature or theater fosters deeper listening and interpretation skills. Patients often describe symptoms in abstract or emotional terms, much like characters in a novel. Practicing narrative medicine—using storytelling in clinical practice—helps providers tune in more carefully to their patients’ experiences (Charon, 2006).
Art does not just enhance clinical skills—it also helps reduce stress. Participating in or appreciating art activities, such as drawing, painting, or music, has been linked to lower cortisol levels and reduced burnout (Bolwerk et al., 2014). For healthcare professionals under pressure, this emotional outlet can increase resilience and compassion.
Exposure to diverse artistic traditions builds cultural awareness, encouraging sensitivity to patients from varied backgrounds. Understanding cultural narratives through art allows for more personalized and respectful care.
Incorporating art into healthcare education is more than enrichment—it is practical training. From honing observational precision to deepening empathy and supporting well-being, the arts can be a transformative tool for any healthcare provider.
1. Dolev, J.C., Friedlaender, L.K., & Braverman, I.M. (2001). Use of fine art to enhance visual diagnostic skills. JAMA, 286(9), 1020–1021.
2. Charon, R. (2006). Narrative Medicine: Honoring the Stories of Illness. Oxford University Press.
3. Bolwerk, A. et al. (2014). How art changes your brain: Differential effects of visual art production and cognitive art evaluation on functional brain connectivity. PLOS ONE, 9(7), e101035.
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Art can support healthcare providers by boosting their skills and emotional awareness. Engaging in art enhances observation and empathy, key qualities for patient care. Here are three ways making art fosters a more compassionate approach to healing.
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