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Mission Statement:
Narrative Medicine fortifies clinical practice with the narrative competence to recognize, absorb, metabolize, interpret, and be moved by the stories of illness. Through narrative training, the Program in Narrative Medicine helps doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists to improve the effectiveness of care by developing the capacity for attention, reflection, representation, and affiliation with patients and colleagues. Our research and outreach missions are conceptualizing, evaluating, and spear-heading these ideas and practices nationally and internationally.



Wilma's Studio

Named for its founder, Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel, a retired oncologist and active artist, "Wilma's Studio" is an art program that brings artists to the hospital weekly to work with children in a creative setting. Children in the Pediatric Oncology and the Pediatric Neurology Clinic paint, sculpt, build, and draw with the encouragement and guidance of specially trained artists. These weekly sessions offered in clinic waiting rooms engage patients and their parents and siblings in meaningful self-expression, improving the entire clinic experience.

"Since the arrival to our clinic of the fine artists Barbara Marco and Linda Zarchin Oifer, the atmosphere of our clinic has changed as if from night to day. Both the children and their parents we serve have been more than delighted with their presence."

Dr. Richard Koenigsberger MD
Senior Physician, Pediatric Neurology Clinic

Our medical students participate and benefit from working in the clinics.

"I have so loved this whole experience and have really learned so much.  I imagine that it is so easy just to see the child as a patient and label them for what is wrong medically, without thinking about their interactions with their 5 brothers everyday and how the mom has to balance the whole family along with having a child that is sick.  There is so much more to these kids than a medical chart and it is our job as physicians to see past a diagnosis and see the kids for who they are and really understand how we can make them better.  I didn't really know much about art and medicine and I am so glad I was exposed to it now because I can really see how it is helping these children every week- and not only those with medical problems- but the siblings and the parents as well.  I have loved every minute of it!"

Kristal Larsen
Medical Student

"Wilma's Studio" is funded entirely by private donation and we are grateful to all our donors:

  • Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel and Mr. Jessie Siegel
  • 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 sending a check to:

Columbia University Medical Center and noting on memo line: Art in Medicine Project

and send to:

William J. Horan
Senior Director of Development
Columbia University Medical Center
100 Haven Avenue, Suite 29D
New York, New York 10032

212-304-7203 (p)
212-533-1920 (f)
e-mail: wjh2104@columbia.edu

 

Program in Narrative Medicine
630 West 168th Street PH 9-East Room 105 New York, NY 10032
Tel: 212.305.4975 Fax: 212.305.9349

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