January 10, 2003

While providing excellent health care to patients is the top priority for MGH clinicians, many of them also do their best to heal patients' broken spirits. A group of caregivers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children are using the healing power of art to bring hope and joy to young pediatric patients. This group of physicians, house staff, nurses and administrators has joined together with patients and families to form the Healing Arts Group and will host a special celebration to highlight their artistic endeavors Jan. 15, at 5:30 pm in the WACC Lobby.

Called the Healing Arts Festival, the event will showcase the many talents of the group — such as music, paintings, photography, poetry and dance — as well as other artistic contributions from the MGH community and beyond. The celebration also will commemorate the third anniversary of MassGeneral Hospital for Children. The artwork displayed at the festival and in-kind donations from more than 30 local businesses and individuals will be sold in a silent auction to raise money for art programs within MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

Somava Saha Stout, MD, a medical and pediatric resident, and patient Molly Randall create a colorful cloth square that will be sewn into a quilt made by patients and caregivers to be displayed at the Healing Arts Festival.

According to the Healing Arts Group vision statement, its mission is "to enhance the healing process of the children who inspire us every day by bridging their burdens of illness with the rich rewards of fantasy and art. By providing these children and their caregivers with artistic venues for facing their common challenges, we hope to bring dignity and optimism into their lives."

For more information about the Healing Arts Festival, send e-mail to Somava Saha Stout, MD, at sstout@partners.org or call Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, at (617) 724-5991.