Healing Stories – The Institute for Arts in Medicine (I

November 7, 2024November 7, 2024

CEO Corner- The Healing Power of Arts for our Cancer Patients

By: Rod Hanners

How the Institute for Arts in Medicine reduces stress and depression and encourages self-expression.

After Heaven Wright was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, she spent almost five months at USC Norris Cancer Hospital waiting for and recovering from a bone marrow transplant. One of the hardest challenges for the 30-year-old single mom was being separated from her 10-year-old daughter, Monroe, who was living out of town with Heaven’s mother while Heaven was being treated.

“My little girl is everything to me,” she says. “I felt stripped of being a mother.”

The Institute for Arts in Medicine (I_AM), a Keck Medicine of USC healing arts initiative, devised an innovative way to bring mom and daughter together and lift Heaven’s spirits: through song…

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The Healing Power of Arts for our Cancer Patients – Keck Medicine of USC

November 7, 2024November 7, 2024

USC Today- Using art for medical healing

By: Rachel B. Levin

Art has been used as an adjunct to medical treatment since ancient times. But in the past few decades, a growing body of research has confirmed that viewing and creating art can benefit patients’ physical and mental well-being. The Healing Arts Program is among a robust collection of USC programs that combines the arts with medicine in creative and evidence-based ways to comfort patients and support their healing.

Fighting cancer with creativity

At the Institute for Arts in Medicine (I_AM) at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, a wide range of expressive arts programming aims to improve clinical outcomes for patients…

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Using art for medical healing – USC Today

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023

Living Beyond Labels: Honoring World Cancer Day with I_AM’s “I_AM More Than My Diagnosis” Hospital Wristband Campaign

To mark World Cancer Day and recognize the Institute for Arts in Medicine’s commitment to enhancing the role of healing arts and wellness throughout our healthcare system, on February 4, 2023, I_AM introduced its “I_AM More Than My Diagnosis” initiative.

Through this unique initiative, patients and their caregivers created a personalized hospital bracelet, allowing them to draw strength and inspiration from the health challenges they/their family members face.

Savannah Mohacsi initiated the hospital wristband project to highlight that patients are often reduced to barcodes and numbers on their wrists. “Dr. Pinski and I wanted those affected by cancer to be able to choose what is written on their wrist, reclaiming their identity as a person beyond their diagnosis,” stated Mohacsi.

Through various arts in medicine programs curated by I_AM, the “I_AM More Than My Diagnosis” project continues its healing journey at the Keck School of Medicine Division of Medical Oncology and is led by Executive Clinical Director Dr. Jacek Pinski.

We look forward to connecting with you and discussing the benefits of I_AM in supporting your healing journey.

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022

Young Cancer Patient Sings Original Cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow” from Hospital Bed

28-year-old Mars Robles has metastatic cancer, but this did not stop him from singing and recording an original cover of his favorite song “Yellow,” by Coldplay, during his hospital stays to receive chemotherapy, a project he chose to dedicate to his girlfriend, Victoria.