Picture of Stéphanie Benoît

Stéphanie Benoît is a medical student in the Class of 2018 at the University of Ottawa

Picture of AiLi Wang

 

AiLi Wang is a medical student in the Class of 2018 at the University of Ottawa

 

What is medicine? It is much more than learning to diagnose and treat diseases. It has physical and mental components—factual and intuitive aspects. Its definition is complex and multi-factorial. Medicine is an art in all its forms.

Speaking of the arts… The Anatomy Colouring Book was a project first envisioned by Dr. Alireza Jalali as a way for medical students to study anatomy creatively. Stéphanie and AiLi, two medical students known for their interest in bridging science and the arts, were recruited and given an opportunity to re-imagine the human body as an œuvre d’art. They both worked during their first year of clerkship to develop drawings that would accurately capture the anatomical body as well as bring imagination and creativity to paper. Though challenging, the process of creating the illustrations was a way to pursue their passion for art while contributing to their peers’ learning opportunities.

Their hope is that by targeting the colouring book at those entering their first year of the undergraduate medical curriculum, students will be able to explore their creativity and emotion through colouring and unwind while learning human anatomy in a fun and relaxing way. It will also serve as an early introduction to the Medicine and Humanities program offered at the University of Ottawa. The humanities and social sciences are an essential part of this program, which was developed provide a new perspective on the study of medicine. Through history, philosophy, literature, and creative arts, this program equips students with the tools to sharpen their critical thinking and reflective methods in order to better understand patients and develop empathy.

This project would not have been possible without the continual support of Lyne Champoux and the Médecins francophones du Canada. The book can be purchased through the uOttawa Office of Francophone Affairs by emailing [email protected].