LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 6, 2024) — The University of Kentucky's Human Development Institute (HDI) is hosting a seminar, “Graphic Medicine and Universal Design,” focused on showing how cartoons and illustrations can help reduce barriers in medical settings. .
This work is part of an interdisciplinary field called graphic medicine, which is the intersection of graphic arts, health, and medicine. Comics, graphic novels, and other visual storytelling formats are used to share medical information, personal stories, and explore healthcare-related themes.
“Graphic medicine and universal design both strive to make information more accessible and understandable to a wide range of people,” said Erin Fitzgerald, Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Program Coordinator at HDI. he said. “When we look at these areas in relation to each other, their intersection can be a real sweet spot for partnership and collaboration. If we work together to reflect the experiences and perspectives of more people, we can reduce barriers. and improve understanding between clients and clinicians in healthcare settings.”
Mr. Fitzgerald will lead the seminar, explaining both concepts and how they overlap, as well as practical ways to apply both graphic medicine and universal design.
Comics and illustrations tell stories and connect with viewers through expressive artwork, continuous storytelling, accessibility to all ages, easy to remember, and a combination of both text and images. It can be an effective storytelling method.
“Everything we do at HDI strives for full inclusion,” said Dr. Walt Bower, HDI's pre-service training coordinator. “We are excited to be expanding the conversation about graphic medicine to the UK community and hope that more people will think about the versatility of this medium.”
The seminar will be held on Zoom on Friday, February 23rd from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Those interested in participating can register online here.
This event also counts for continuing education credits. If you have any questions, please contact Walt Bower at walt.bower@uky.edu.
