Event Details
Graphic Medicine has gained national and international attention over the past two decades. The term “graphic medicine” was conceived by Dr. Ian Williams (physician, comic book artist, and founder of GraphicMedicine.org) in 2007. This genre and discipline focuses on person-centered narratives and illustrations, highlighting perspectives in navigating medical diagnoses, illness, treatment, and other aspects of the health care experience.
The RAILS Continuing Education Event Grant will allow us to invite the original curator of [Re]Framing Graphic Medicine: Comics and the History of Medicine, Dr. Brian Callender will give a 45-minute presentation about Graphic Medicine. His talk introduces graphic medicine as a contemporary field and traces the relationship between comics and illness, health, and medicine from the medium’s earliest days. It examines how evolving representations of illness and medical practice reflect and critique broader social and cultural understandings of medicine, and concludes by highlighting the varied uses of contemporary graphic medicine, including self-reflection, education, research, practice, and community engagement.
The event will conclude with a hour-long guided zine-making activity where Claressa Slaughter, Education & Curriculum Librarian at the Boxer Library within Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS), using themes introduced by Dr. Callender. Claressa will use her experience of creating a “Wellbeing Zine” with the students of RFUMS to guide event participants in creating their own small zine, reflecting on topics of health and wellness.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will leave the event specifically with:
- A clearer understanding of how Graphic Medicine can be used to promote empathy, reflection, and dialogue in academic, health sciences, and public library environments.
- Increased awareness of the value of Graphic Medicine and strategies for integrating them into programming and outreach.
- Hands-on experience with zine-making as an accessible pedagogical and wellness tool that can be adapted for various audiences.
- Strengthened confidence in using visual storytelling to support learning, emotional expression, and community engagement.
Materials
In preparation for this session, please come ready with the following materials for the zine making activity if available to you:
- Something to write on such as a sheet of paper, preferably 8.5'' x 11'' (Letter Sized).
- Something to write with such as a pen/pens, pencil/pencils, or marker/markers
This event is made possible through a RAILS CE Event Grant, and is open to all RAILS members.