title: The Memory Art Project: medical students and older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The humanities are increasingly recognized as an important component of medical student education. This study addresses whether early exposure to healthy older adults through the humanities may prepare medical students for positive relationships with aging patients. Few studies have presented a detailed example of a humanistic endeavor organized by medical students to facilitate student interactions with healthy older adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the results of a unique art project organized to promote rapport between medical students and healthy older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve first- and second-year students at the Medical College of Wisconsin were paired with 12 older adult residents at a local independent living facility. Participation was voluntary, and all participants were asked to complete 3 sessions over the course of 2 months. During the first session, partners met each other and formed a relationship. A professional art instructor provided a lesson and supervised practice in acrylic painting. In the second session, all student and older adult participants created a painting to represent their partner. The third session featured a reception to celebrate the artwork and new friendships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten medical student/older adult pairs completed the project. Reactions were positive, and the project was perceived as beneficial to both students and older adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Memory Art Project effectively promoted positive communication between medical students and an aging population that will need to interact meaningfully with medical professionals in the future.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, MCW Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, PO Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509, USA. lkodadek@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kodadek
authors.forename: Brittany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bettendorf
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Uihlein
authors.forename: Arthur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Derse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001155:Art Therapy; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013337:Students, Medical; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult