Arts in Medicine Celebrates 10 Years, New Gallery Opening

BATON ROUGE, La. – Baton Rouge General’s Arts in Medicine program (AIM), which brings creative activities to patients to inspire hope and promote healing, will celebrate its 10th anniversary and new gallery opening on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 5-7 p.m.

On any given day, patients, family members, friends and staff can be seen painting to reduce stress, playing harmonica to improve respiratory capability, singing or playing musical instruments to decrease anxiety and pain perception, or enjoying live music around campus. Another component of the program is to share local art with patients, staff and visitors in the “Café Gallery” on BRG’s Bluebonnet campus. A new set of artists are showcased each year, and the art is available for purchase.

Since its inception in 2012, the program has grown to add more connections to the arts. In 2019, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) music therapy program was incorporated. Studies show music therapy in the NICU provides a host of benefits, including a stabilized heart rate and improved breathing, feeding, weight gain and sleep. BRG’s music therapists use breath, voice and specialized instruments to recreate sounds from the womb that comfort and stimulate babies as they grow. And last year, AIM teamed up with The Louisiana Arts & Science Museum and Capital Area Agency on Aging to provide “Arts on the Go” to senior adults in an 11-parish region.

“Research shows again and again the benefits of the arts on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health,” said Kim Henderson, Supervisor of the Arts in Medicine program. “No matter your age, music and art can help you heal.”

At the gallery opening and anniversary celebration, 78 pieces of art will be on display, and first, second and third place winners will be recognized. “View From a Bee” by Margaret Hawkins nabbed the top spot this year. The John Bishop Jazz Trio and Broadmoor Baptist Quartet will provide the entertainment.

One of the pieces of art, “Megan: Miracles and Masterpieces,” has a special connection to the Arts in Medicine program. The painting depicts a young woman in a hospital bed, paintbrush in hand. The image stuck with the artist, Anna Hingle, because the girl in the painting is her niece. In 2017, Megan Saffiotti went into sudden cardiac arrest at just 18 years old.

“Many miracles and 13 days later, Megan was discharged and is still doing well,” said Hingle. “One of our miracles was Baton Rouge General Hospital. The excellent care they gave her cannot be denied. Before her discharge, she participated in several of their patient programs, Arts in Medicine in particular. She had so much fun painting a ceiling tile!”

The event takes place in the Bluebonnet Café, near Entrance 3, at 8585 Picardy Ave. For more information, call (225) 387-7040 or click here.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with over 600 licensed beds between three campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General is affiliated with several medical school programs, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter @BRGeneral and Instagram @batonrougegeneral.

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