‘This Week in Graphic Medicine’ highlights relevant articles (and tweets) about comics in medicine published during the week (Saturday – Friday). Links are typically presented without commentary, unless clarification of relevance is necessary, with credit given to those who flagged them up where possible. So without further ado…
Matthew’s Pick of the Week…
This week’s pick will be unsurprising, but I want to highlight the launching of the National Library of Medicine’s new traveling exhibit, “Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived and Well Drawn“. This has been a long work in progress (2014!) and was created and curated by rock star of graphic medicine: Ellen Forney.
To me, the most exciting part of this exhibit is the online, education resources components. Here you’ll find a 3-part lesson plan on Graphic Medicine & Mental Health geared to grades 7 – 10, making use of Ellen’s Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me to discuss mental illness and create their own graphics. You’ll also see a nearly half-semester, ready-to-launch Comics for Health and Medicine course geared toward college level students. This mimics Michael Green‘s course at Penn State (which I used as the base for the course I teach) and is more-or-less an “add comics and go” program!
While there have been efforts on the parts of librarians – notably folks at Ypsilanti District Library, Seattle Public Library, and a few of us medical librarians – to engage with graphic medicine and bring it into our communities, this nation-wide initiative by the NLM is already bringing more attention to the field than our efforts combined. Here’s hoping over the next few years, I’ll start getting fewer “Uhhhhh…..” responses when I bring up comics and medicine! Do note, that while this exhibit is fabulous, it is just a taste of the field – so be sure to keep close eye on this site and reach out to us if you ever have more questions.
A quick shout-out to the folks at UNT Libraries, one of the first hosts for the traveling exhibit, who have jumped right in with a number of events to pair with the exhibit. You can find out all about their programming here!
I’ll end with a tweet I sent out just before posting this – it captures my joy at how quickly the traveling portion of this exhibit has been added to library programming plans!
Ya’ll, @nlm_news‘s Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived & Well-Drawn exhibit is almost entirely booked up for the next 4 years already. That’s AMAZING! #medlibspic.twitter.com/OBmc4KoEIy
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 19, 2018
Comics and Medicine: The Way We Work
The Center for Cartoon Studies has launched its page for the 2018 Graphic Medicine Conference! Here you’ll find logistical information – dates and some basic travel information – as well as confirmed keynote speakers. You will also find the call-for-papers information – proposals are due January 30th, 2018. Keep your eyes open for more information as it arrives!
Articles & More…
Event: Taking Turns: Graphic Medicine and the Oral History of an Inpatient AIDS Unit
Webcomic: Second Opinions (Facebook link)
Webcomic: Away via @lunarbaboon
Webcomic: I Said I Was Done With Dieting, But It Wasn’t Done With Me via @TheNib
Webcomic: “School Daze” by Research Fellow Jamie Michaels
Scholarly (Blog): My Graphic Semester via @lldiedrich
Scholarly (Blog): New Graphic Medicine at AJOB
Scholarly: Different stories: How levels of familiarity with literary and genre fiction relate to mentalizing
Scholarly: Smiles, Apologies, and Drawing Trauma-Informed Care in the PurpLE Clinic
Scholarly: Alter Egos: An Exploration of the Perspectives and Identities of Science Comic Creators
Podcast: Hillary Chute on “Why Illness & Disability?”
Library: Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived and Well-Drawn!
Book Review: Comic Review: “Champions #16”
Review (Comic): Desolation on the Border
ICYMI: Positive/Negatives
Sketches From Outside the Margins: Stories From the Seattle/King County Clinic
“Family Doc Diary” chronicles a year of residency through thoughtful illustrations
Comics a way to express ideas about health (scroll down)
Illustrator of witty, relatable Instagram comics Julia Bernhard touches on our humble moments
‘Mister Miracle’ writer Tom King proposes Sanctuary– a psychological health center for DC heroes
Tweets…
#CurrentlyReading #GraphicMedicine / “Lamyai” teaches young Thai women about AIDS and STDs. – PubMed – NCBI https://t.co/rA0btz8L9e
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
#CurrentlyReading #GraphicMedicine / Worker Produced Health Education Material for the Construction Trades https://t.co/PFdBKn9Rp8
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
Anyone out there interested in collaborating on writing a book for kids about bacteria and fungi? ?
Please RT!— @RealScientists – Allison (@realscientists) January 10, 2018
Learning to cherish life by understanding death. This is a masterful work. #GraphicMedicine pic.twitter.com/ALvxcDRWbw
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 13, 2018
#CurrentlyReading #GraphicMedicine / Within the eyes of the people: using a photonovel as a consciousness-raising health literacy tool with ESL-speaking immigrant women. – PubMed – NCBI https://t.co/kRFo4aIAqO
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
A theme I’m seeing in articles describing the *creation* of health comics is that the educational component is secondary. The feeling of empowerment, community, and the sense of seeing one’s self takes center stage. #GraphicMedicine
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
Bill has one of the most unique art styles of anyone. #GraphicMedicine / A Brief Anatomy of My Anxiety: The OCD Variety https://t.co/nOffmAgt5q
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
A historical look, #GraphicMedicine / Captain Chemo and Mr Wiggly: Patient Information for Children with Cancer in the Late Twentieth Century https://t.co/fFZLYSmOBM
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
I should be bringing home more articles to abstract over the weekend… instead, I think I’ll read these. In my defense, the articles were #GraphicMedicine related and so are these comics! pic.twitter.com/wPDbIBHWB8
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 12, 2018
We, rightly, spend a lot of time thinking about how illness can be isolating for those experiencing it. But we spend far less time thinking about how isolating it can be for their loved ones. #GraphicMedicine (from Lissa) pic.twitter.com/T3vgNmbf64
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 13, 2018
Can you guys help me spread the word?
I’ve got a comic book set in the UK that tackles mental health, online harassment and the cost of fame, and I want to get it reviewed by #comic sites!
If you are interested just DM me. pic.twitter.com/smeCf580Po
— Jamie Me (@JamieMeWrites) January 11, 2018
COMING SOON: A #science-based graphic medicine #comic explaining #anxiety and how to manage it https://t.co/q36tMKVwK8 #mentalhealth #graphicmedicine #health pic.twitter.com/Fed9Ud2Kf6
— Singing Dragon Books (@Singing_Dragon_) January 14, 2018
A double-helix bound by locks… I’ve never seen such a perfect visualization of genetic patent law. (From Lissa) #GraphicMedicine #GraphicJustice pic.twitter.com/VL7xUW6FuR
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 14, 2018
(Paid comics job!) – May be of interest to those interested in graphic medicine https://t.co/8C60MBrvZh
— Tim Bird (@T_J_Bird) January 14, 2018
FYI #GraphicMedicine colleagues– @JournalofEthics will be facilitating a discussion of using comics to promote person-centered medicine! Setup your free account to see & participate: https://t.co/uiuRZjVw4p pic.twitter.com/h9NfSl2oBq
— Justin Kreuter, MD (@KreuterMD) January 14, 2018
Potential unintended #consequences of the #gamification of #healthcare. #videogames meet #Medicine. #graphicmedicine pic.twitter.com/5358OR2PMj
— jackmaypole (@drmaypole) January 15, 2018
Ten simple rules for drawing scientific comics https://t.co/lXmuyStd6J #GraphicMedicine #GraphicScience pic.twitter.com/nZNTGZEWo0
— P. F. Anderson (@pfanderson) January 15, 2018
I’ll be speaking about The Facts of Life at @CardiffBookTalk soon with Lisa El Refaie and @GameiroSofia. I’m appearing by video/skype. https://t.co/cxLCgOD9oG #comics #fertility #graphicmedicine #bookgroup
— Paula Knight (@Paula_JKnight) January 15, 2018
Coming soon! #graphicmedicine pic.twitter.com/i4tCToUACA
— McGoogan Library (@UNMCLibrary) January 15, 2018
Upcoming #GraphicMedicine / Draw Stronger: Self-Care For Cartoonists and Other Visual Artists by Kriota W… https://t.co/qZzApSobU8 via @amazon
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 16, 2018
.@nlm_news @NIH Launches #GraphicMedicine Ill-Conceived & Well Drawn! ?Special Display, Traveling Banner #Exhibition & Online Exhibition open 1/30/18 https://t.co/MRyxX3jPlO @NLMdirector #histmed #medhum #medicalhumanities #medlibs pic.twitter.com/tVfZF88dNi
— Jeffrey S Reznick (@jeffreysreznick) January 16, 2018
“Finally an “expert” was born; nobody knows more about water than water itself, therefore a talking Drop of Water became the second character….”
Okay, this is brilliant. Only in comics. #GraphicMedicine
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 16, 2018
Couldn’t help but think of @susansquier when I saw this chicken! #GraphicMedicine https://t.co/9l7W6ajFED pic.twitter.com/6M2h5aWgyi
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 16, 2018
#PedroandMe by @JuddWinick is a perfect example to illustrate the power of #GraphicMedicine and its ability to engage and educate the reader on multiple levels #empathy #HIV #AIDS @NoetheMatt @KreuterMD @jpots @SeeRenPhD @erhall1 @SuzanneNorby pic.twitter.com/GWhtRQTtAf
— Theresa Malin (@tmalinMLS) January 17, 2018
Core, surface, anti, antigen, antibody? If youre anything like me, you always forget the nitty gritty of screening for hepatitis B… whats it all mean?! @coreim got your back. Listen to their latest ep hosted by MDs: @thisisamyshem @strive01 and @housedogmartyfavor pic.twitter.com/axa3cQgOlr
— Mike Natter, MD (@mike_natter) January 17, 2018
El mundo hospitalario en clave de #cómic.
Vía @Estudi_Grafic
https://t.co/DmHySo2w3S#MedicinaGráfica#GraphicMedicine#Francés pic.twitter.com/UZ2VovA06t— Blanca Mayor Serrano (@mayorserrano) January 17, 2018
Thanks to my @MayoClinic #meded #GraphicMedicine colleagues. This was a wonderful read and great discussion. Thanks @tmalinMLS and @KreuterMD for championing. https://t.co/MjGFKuI5I5
— Jeannie Poterucha (@jpots) January 17, 2018
As just one example, @4Pumehana led us through a #GraphicMedicine exercise to develop a #climatechange communication comic. It seemed impossible, but the results were incredible & still have me thinking.
— Faith Kearns (@frkearns) January 17, 2018
Just under 2 weeks left to submit proposals for @GraphicMedicine 2018 (Comics and Medicine: The Ways We Work) at @CartoonStudies! https://t.co/jXE3W2Usax
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
#Medical #lingo: The #ChandelierSign. Often cited as a finding of a painful pelvic exam in #PevlicInflammatoryDisease, but often applied to any examination that causes an acute #patient reaction with discomfort on palpation. Suggests something troublesome afoot. #GraphicMedicine pic.twitter.com/GG6G4RR1bc
— jackmaypole (@drmaypole) January 18, 2018
#CurrentlyReading #GraphicMedicine / Overcoming language and cultural barriers: a graphical communication tool to perform a parasitological screening in two vulnerable populations from… – PubMed – NCBI https://t.co/hKXGgxdncW
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
How antihistamine works. pic.twitter.com/RJeNRztI2c
— Beatrice the Biologist (@beatricebiology) January 18, 2018
Holy cow, I’ve read about half of these comic books and now I can’t wait to read the other half! @nlm_news https://t.co/WgLxVXKoPY “Explore this Exhibition Collection of graphic medicine works that are part of the resources of the National Library of Medicine.”
— Tatiana Gill (@TatsGill) January 18, 2018
#CurrentlyReading #GraphicMedicine / Cancer and the Comics: Graphic Narratives and Biolegitimate Lives. – PubMed – NCBI https://t.co/h1gHHkLRft
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
“According to me, a professional, you are not what you say you are. You are what I say you are.” https://t.co/iY7UJmnTg7 #identity #transgender #lgbtq #asd #GraphicMedicine
— P. F. Anderson (@pfanderson) January 18, 2018
Some examples of diabetes #GraphicMedicine. A fair amount of informational comics out there, but not as much in the way of memoirs or narratives. pic.twitter.com/JGNWBVDSVW
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
“At first, this ‘plurarlity of messages’ might seem to be a disadvantage for a resource intended to convey factual health information, but there is, of course, a great deal of uncertainty surrounding illness.”
YES
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
The importance this can’t be overstated. There are few absolutes in medicine and the patient experience – arguably the most important part of healthcare – is so diverse that to try to capture it is like trying to photograph The Flash. All you get is a blur. #GraphicMedicine
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
Now you can enjoy #GraphicMedicine from right-to-left with these latest additions to our collection! pic.twitter.com/uBG7GxC5yI
— UMMS Library (@UMMSLibrary) January 18, 2018
Some awesome #flu graphics going around today. What would’ve been even better is distributing them more widely before flu season was in full swing~ #GraphicMedicine
— Lydia Christina (@prettypvalue) January 18, 2018
#GraphicMedicine / ‘Formative Evaluation of the ‘Time Twisters’: A Comic Book Based Obesit’ by Carolyn A. Agurcia MA, Ross Shegog PhD et al. https://t.co/xMgwsvRbxH
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
Given that the comics in this study are only one aspect of the educational package, there is a surprisingly rich overview of the history of educational comics in this article. Few have done that.
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
#GraphicMedicine / Mark Making: Methodologies and methods (innovative practice)Dementia – Hannah Zeilig, 2016 https://t.co/8jYOFvGupo
— Matthew Noe (@NoetheMatt) January 18, 2018
Whatever the number is it’s negative. We’re firehose-fed health disinformation by those, especially pharma companies, who profit from our illnesses. Glad the #graphicmedicine gang is on the job!
— ExcitableApe (@excitableape) January 19, 2018
@GraphicSocSci Hi there. Are you aware of my comics, that often touch upon social science research?https://t.co/j542o6ZS0L andhttps://t.co/4fOi5NMabH are good examples.
— Stuart McMillen (@stuart_mcmillen) January 8, 2018
Props to @Paula_JKnight for this fabulous #graphicnovel. She mentions how storytelling often resorts to the ‘trump card’ of pregnancy to get a ‘satisfying’ denouement – thanks for saying this: I usually chuck a new book/film if I detect it’ll wrap up like that #films https://t.co/qfWvq5ctVb
— Wendy Armstrong (@Wendy_Armstro) January 14, 2018
Wonderful gift from my advisee, @blmartino, who defended her brilliant dissertation, The Living Inside: Listening to Madness with Félix Guattari, in August: a former library copy of Making It, written by my dissertation advisor Cindy Patton (& Janis Kelly). pic.twitter.com/HOXn35T98k
— Lisa Diedrich (@lldiedrich) January 17, 2018
This month @sciencemagazine celebrates the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (https://t.co/NWaijK4glp) – I guess it’s a good time to repost my Aldini comic: https://t.co/IcM0jeZZmn #Frankenstein200 #cartoonscience pic.twitter.com/BH31l7ECkf
— Matteo Farinella (@matteofarinella) January 18, 2018
Some great stuff this week! Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments below or tweet @NoetheMatt! Until next time…
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