On Saturday, March 22, eleven of Neighborhood’s East County clinicians participated in an Unlocking Observation Skills through Art workshop at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park. Ray Williams, our workshop facilitator, has a vast knowledge of museum-based medical education and is the director of education at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin. Ray also co-authored Activating the Art Museum: Designing Experiences for the Health Professions, which demonstrates the value of art museums in supporting humanism in healthcare for the benefit of both practitioners and their patients.
Clinicians must observe their patients closely and synthesize various types of information daily. During their time at the museum, clinicians participated in activities designed to sharpen their ability to observe, interpret, and empathize through the lens of art. Ray guided participants through visual thinking strategies and engaging exploration of images to encourage multiple observations and interpretive comments grounded in visual evidence.
“The Art Museum is a logical setting to enhance critical observation skills for health professionals,” states Dr. Edgar Bulloch, Associate Chief Medical Officer. “Everyone involved had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and enhance their awareness of nonverbal cues in a unique setting. This is particularly important in East County, where our patients speak more than 20 languages.”
This engaging and highly participatory workshop helped participants build community with their peers and improve interprofessional communication and team dynamics. They were challenged to see through one another’s eyes, collaboratively search for meaning, and build upon each other’s ideas. The museum provided an environment that encouraged reflection and respite from the typical caseload of a busy clinician.
Art can also facilitate storytelling, which enhances understanding across cultures and improves communication with patients and their families. Utilizing cultural legends stimulated by art found in the museum, Ray encouraged participants in their stories, leading to professional reflection, affirmation, affiliation with colleagues, and the potential for increased compassion for patients and their families.
This workshop was generously supported by grant funding through the Conrad Prebys Foundation.
