The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has entered a partnership with Mercer University to provide Visualization Training for Mercer’s third-and-fourth-year medical students. The Turner Center joins art establishments in Savannah, Macon, and Columbus in providing this innovative clinical training that uses the arts to build visual literacy, enhance clinical observation methods, encourage collaboration, and boost communication skills.
During the training, medical students spend several minutes studying one piece of art at a time, then another several minutes collaborating with other medical students to discuss what they see. The students discover that the longer they look at a piece of art, the more they actually see. They also discover the benefits of collaborating with others on the same piece and how it may impact their decisions.
“We are extremely proud to work with these medical students to explore how the arts can positively impact the way we see and serve others,” said Turner Center Executive Director Sementha Mathews, Ph.D. “This innovative method can be applied to change the way we view not only patients, but students, employees, neighbors, and family members, as well, and is a testament to the power of the arts in our community and in our lives.”
The Turner Center will host the medical students twice a year, in July and January. For more information, contact Dr. Mathews at 229-247-2787 or smathews@turnercenter.org.
