January 31, 2025
Sujal Manohar is a medical student with a passion for the arts. As a neuroscience and visual arts graduate of Duke University, she doesn’t view these fields as distinct. Instead, she lives and thrives at their intersection. She invites PALTC25 attendees to join her at that intersection next month during Friday morning’s Anne-Marie Filkin Lecture in Charlotte, NC: Utilizing Art and Storytelling to Benefit Patients and Providers.
“I've been a visual artist for as long as I can remember, with a lifelong passion for drawing and painting. An early experience as a Duke undergraduate teaching art at a pediatric hospital showed me how creative activities could benefit patients,” she explains. “Later, I led art gallery tours for adults with dementia and created a drawing series exploring student mental health, showing me that my interests in the arts and sciences were not mutually exclusive.”
Ms. Manohar—who is currently enrolled at Baylor College of Medicine—believes art and storytelling activities help build a sense of community, provide opportunities to learn new skills, and create space for personal reflection, all of which can alleviate social isolation and loneliness for patients in long-term care facilities. For providers, such activities also serve as valuable tools for self-reflection, stress relief, and combating burnout.
As she notes, “For me, art has always been a stress-relieving activity and a way to process challenging experiences that are difficult to express in words. Several studies have shown how the arts can address burnout, stress, and feelings of isolation. Art can also serve as a community activity, fostering social connections and bringing people together.”
That’s why Ms. Manohar and a fellow medical student created the Draw YOUR Story program, which addresses social isolation among older adults through weekly art and storytelling activities. “The program’s simplicity—relying on open-ended questions and basic art supplies—makes it easy to adapt and replicate in various settings,” she says. “Post-acute and long-term care providers can use this activity with patients, either in group settings or during one-on-one interactions, to foster connection and engagement.”
Ms. Manohar is excited to interact with PALTC25 attendees and hopes her talk will broaden their artistic horizons and encourage them to collaborate with local arts organizations to benefit their patients. She recommends beginning “with a needs assessment to ensure the partnership aligns with the needs of the patient population and the resources of both organizations. Consider factors such as accessibility, affordability, language barriers, and transportation. Starting small, with a one-time pilot program, can be a great way to test the waters before committing to a longer-term initiative.” She encourages providers interested in learning more to explore the Arts on Prescription Field Guide, which offers detailed guidance on building successful partnerships.
The Anne-Marie Filkin Lecture is named after the late physician who was a passionate advocate for her patients and a leader in the New York state chapter. It is designed to inspire and empower meeting attendees and is always a conference highlight.
Go here to register for PALTC25 and get additional information about the program. You can find out more about Ms. Manohar on her website.
