The Graphic Medicine international conference organizers will be launching a free weekly virtual meet-up called “Drawing Together.” We will provide a Zoom link, a topic, and a group facilitator.  All in the world-wide Graphic Medicine community are welcome to join us to chat, draw, support one another, and share. What: Drawing Together Virtual Meet-ups Where: Zoom link to be provided (free!) Who: All members and guests of the graphic medicine global community How:Email comicnurse@mac.com to register. Participants will receive a Zoom link at least 15 minutes prior to session start. When: Sundays, starting April 5, 4 pm GMT/noon Eastern/11am Central/9am Pacific (or convert to your time zone here)… Read More

by Abbey L. Berg, PhD, CCC-A, FNAP: Pace University, Communication Sciences & Disorders Program and Keyra-Nicole Lecointe, BS: Pace University, Graduate Program in Communication Sciences & Disorders Abstract: 22 speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students read the graphic novel, El Deafo (Bell, 2014). Groups of 3-4 students produced a 4-frame comic of communication impairment. Five categories emerged from student responses to activity: 1) increased perspective-taking; 2) awareness of knowledge/beliefs; 3) academic/clinical training/practicum experiences tool; 4) advocacy/public health; and 5) intra- and inter-professional collaborations. In summary, incorporating graphic novels and comics in graduate education and training is valuable. Background: Narratives fill a gap… Read More

Hot off the press! – the Top 10 Don’ts and Do’s for Researchers Working with Patient Partners was inspired by a conversation amongst patient partners at REFLECT 2017 – a workshop held by the Hatching Ideas Hub that brought together researchers, patients/service-users/caregivers, and policy makers in the field of suicide prevention to share ways of working (better) together on research projects. Collaboratively designed by patient partners and researchers, and brought alive by the creative talents of the illustrator (Emily Adams) and graphic design specialist (Andy Gauthier), the Top 10 comic depicts some of the common scenarios encountered by patient partners in research and communicates some important… Read More

Mile High: Adventures in Colorado Medical Marijuana by Mister V, isbn: 978-0989384346, © 2019, 8th Wonder Press (8thwonderpress.com), 322 pages.  Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America by Brian “Box” Brown (www.boxbrown.com), isbn: 978-1250154088, © April 2, 2019, :01 First Second (firstsecondbooks.com), 250 pages. Book Reviews by Kevin Wolf This is a difficult review to write. Book reviewers are often called critics. A memoir carries the additional critic’s problem that it could lead to personal hurt; after all criticizing the presentation could be taken very personally. From my perspective, nothing written here should be taken personally, it’s meant for outside… Read More

Graphic Medicine post: Between You and Me: Transitional Comics It never occurred to me that I could make comics about the doctor—about going or not going, about those paper robes and things I’d rather forget—until I read MK Czerwiec’s work. This opened a whole world to me as a lifelong hypochondriac who has typically avoided going to the doctor and as a transgender person just beginning to medically transition. Just so many possible comics to draw. It also never occurred to me that I would be a cartoonist or that I would have a book (of comics!) until I started… Read More

Medical Comics Exhibition: Looking at facets of medicine from different perspectives Focus on Medical Humanities in the Lecture Center of MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital until 31 January 2020  The “Medical Comics” exhibition will be on display in the Medical University of Vienna’s Lecture Center in Vienna General Hospital (Level 8) until 31 January 2020. Under the heading of “Impression – Expression – Interaction, Perception in Medicine”, the various facets of medicine are broken down according to three perspectives: “Help!” Helping with comics”, “Sick! Being sick in comics” and interactive stations, so that visitors can join in the action and interaction…. Read More

Proposal Deadline: December 20, 2019. Please find the full call at https://visualaids.org/blog/open-call-comics.  Visual AIDS invites artists to submit proposals for new comics to be included in our Summer 2020 exhibition. Visual AIDS utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over. Proposal Deadline: December 20, 2019 Visual AIDS will present a new exhibition in Summer 2020 curated by UK-based artist Paul Sammut. The exhibition will take place in New York City and explore the rich history of comics as a mirror for contemporary culture, and as relatable and accessible… Read More

Growing up in a small Midlands town in England, one I describe as being like Shawshank without the redemption, everything felt safe, everyday moved seamlessly into the next. But occasionally there were ripples. In one room of our small terraced house my Dad put up some fake brick wallpaper. It was very much the thing in the 1970s. Make the insides look like the outsides, except Dad without realising put half of it on upside down. The paper should have looked as though the bricks stood proud of the cement, the little shadow under the brick did that job. Turn… Read More