January 17, 2003

It can be difficult to find giggles and smiles on a hospital pediatrics floor. But when Joan Drescher arrives at MassGeneral Hospital for Children, she often is greeted with the happy faces of pediatric patients eager to have some creative fun with her.

Drescher is the artist-in-residence for MassGeneral Hospital for Children, and she shares her artistic talent with young patients as she wheels her "Imagination Kart" from room to room. The ordinary hospital cart is decorated with brightly colored streamers, moons and stars and is a welcome sight for young eyes. Chock-full of oil pastels, magic markers, paint bottles, feathers, pom-poms, art paper, scissors, glue and an assortment of other art supplies, the Kart — along with Drescher's guidance and expertise — offers an array of options to spark young imaginations.

Kasey Baglio, age 6, has been spending a lot of time at the hospital recently as she waits for a liver transplant. But her days on Ellison 18 have been brightened by colorful crayons, rainbow paints, whimsical feathers and streamers that let her create whatever her imagination dreams up.

On one particular recent day, Kasey was joined in the Ellison 18 playroom by another young patient, Allison Levine, age 7, in transforming some ordinary coffee filters into spring flowers and floating butterflies. Within a few minutes, the girls were smiling, giggling and eagerly awaiting the next project that Drescher pulled from her Kart.

"I strongly believe in the power of art to help heal," says Drescher, who has been the artist-in-residence at the hospital for two years. "I have seen firsthand how artistic symbols can help children cope with the stress of illness and the pain of loss."

It is this same philosophy that has inspired many caregivers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. A group of physicians, house staff, nurses and administrators recently joined together to form the Healing Arts Group with a mission to bring hope and healing to young patients through art programs. Above, from left, Kasey Baglio, Drescher and Allison Levine

One of the first projects for the group was showcasing their artistic endeavors with a celebration held Jan. 15 called "The Healing Arts Festival: Bridging Our Communities Through Art and Medicine."

"As caregivers, we can share much more than just medicine with our patients and each other," says Somava Saha Stout, MD, a medical and pediatric resident and coordinator of the Healing Arts Festival. "By incorporating music, painting, poetry and dance into the care we give to our patients, we hopefully can make a difference in the healing process."

For more information about the Artist-in-Residence program, call (617) 724-5720.