Arts in Medicine Studio

About the Studio

The “Arts in Medicine Studio” is an innovative art program for pediatric patients that brings creativity and fun into the hospital clinic. Taking advantage of the waiting times in the outpatient clinics, artists come into the clinics to create art with children and their families.

The program began in 2004 in Columbia’s Pediatric Neurology Clinic for low-income families, where Artists-in-Residence Barbara Marco and Linda Oifer set up two large art tables covered with art supplies. The children in at the clinic have a variety of mental and physical challenges, and the many diverse materials allow each of them to have a unique creative experience. 

The Arts in Medicine Studio is part of the “Arts in Medicine Project” of the Narrative Medicine Program. It was the innovation of Dr. Wilma Siegel, an artist and retired oncologist, and originally sponsored by Dr. Siegel, the Gold Foundation, and the Campus Community Committee of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

The art program was so well received by patients, families, and physicians that it was expanded to the Herbert Irving Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology/Hematology Clinic in 2007. Barbara Marco, Coordinator of the studio and Artist-in-Residence since 2004 recently relocated and Artist-in-Residence/Metropolitan Museum contractual educator Nitza Danieli Horner has taken over the program and continues making art with patients, their siblings, and their families.

Arts in Medicine is funded by The Alfano Family Foundation, through Hope & Heroes, the 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit that supports pediatric oncology at Columbia. A recent increase in funding has made it possible for Arts in Medicine to work bedside with in-patient children at the Children’s Hospital. A new partnership with Hope and Heroes and The Metropolitan Museum of Art now makes museum programs available to pediatric oncology patients in our art program. 

The Pediatric Neurology Clinic art program continues with generous funding from the Department of Neurology and Ambulatory Care Network Outreach and Marketing.

Donate to the Arts in Medicine Studio

The Arts in Medicine Program is funded in part by private donations. We are grateful to our donors:

  • The Alfano Family Foundation
  • Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel and Mr. Jessie Siegel
  • Anonymous
  • Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism in Medicine
  • Cloe Foundation/Jesse Forst
  • The Coles Family Foundation
  • Roz and Robert Perlmutter/Pearl Paint
  • Barry and Sally Mandel
  • Ginny Dawes

Help us reach more children.

Make a donation to our program by writing a check to “Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York” and a note on the memo line “Arts-in-Medicine Project” and mail to:

Caroline Hastings
Executive Director of Development
CUIMC
516 West 168th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10032
Office: (212)304-6418
Email: caroline.hastings@columbia.edu

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