Health Sciences hosts National Library of Medicine traveling exhibit

The Health Sciences Library is hosting the National Library of Medicine Traveling Exhibit, “Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived & Well-Drawn!” The exhibit is on view in the library’s open seating area across from the Access Services Desk until Feb. 17.

The traveling banner exhibition and companion website explore an emerging genre of medical literature that combines the art of comics and personal illness narrative – graphic medicine. The art of comics, which combines words and pictures, gives approachability and emotional impact to these personal stories, and even to the clinical data they sometimes include. It communicates the author’s personal experience of illness and health using many mediums, as the art adds subjective, emotional impact. The author’s internal, individual viewpoint balances the external, clinical realm of medical symptoms and diagnoses. Additionally, for other patients who share that health issue, it’s a way to have company and share information.

The exhibit includes an education component with a K-12 lesson plan that explores the graphic medicine genre, and a university module that introduces the use of comics as a medium for communicating stories about medicine and the experiences of illness.

The National Library of Medicine produced “Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived & Well-Drawn!” with guest curator, artist, educator and New York Times bestselling author Ellen Forney (Cornish College of Arts, Washington).