The arts and humanities are increasingly recognized as essential rather than peripheral to medical education across the continuum—from undergraduate studies to medical school and into the ongoing professional development of practicing clinicians. Reflecting the AAMC’s FRAHME report, which positions the arts as vital to fostering flourishing, perspective-taking, resilience, and professional identity formation, art museums have emerged as dynamic laboratories for this work.

Within these spaces, learners engage deeply with visual art to cultivate core capacities of medical practice, including bias awareness, close observation, empathic imagination, communication skills, team collaboration, and tolerance for ambiguity.

In this lecture, Dr. Ike will trace the historical and philosophical roots of the arts and humanities as integral to the healing professions and demonstrate how museums around the world are now being leveraged as innovative classrooms for developing the next generation of reflective, compassionate physician leaders.

Exhibition and related programs made possible through the support of Bacca Foundation Visiting Scholar and Artist Program, Public Lectures Committee, and the McGaw Lecture Fund.