Students use art to relieve minds of patients at UNC Hospitals

It’s a scene straight out of elementary school. Huddled around a table, children craft and color paper plate jack-o’-lanterns.

But this isn’t kindergarten — it’s a hospital waiting room.

ArtHeels, a UNC student volunteer organization, is making UNC Hospitals a little bit brighter. The group brings craft projects, coloring books, bubble blowers, music and even clowns to entertain pediatric and geriatric patients.

“It’s really great to have this in the lobby,” said Lydia Brennan. Her daughter, Faith, was visiting the hospital.

“She knows what’s going on,” Brennan said. “She knows she’s going to see the doctor and it gives her something else to focus on.”

As its name suggests, ArtHeels believes art can contribute to the healing process.

“We try to help them forget, if just for five minutes, that they are in a hospital,” said junior Katy Heubel, president and hospital student liaison for ArtHeels. “Kind of transcending the moment and the ailments they’re dealing with.”

Along with regularly volunteering at the hospital five days a week, the group started holding biweekly informational meetings this semester on campus for students interested in the intersection of art therapy and medicine.

“We’ve worked in the hospital doing these weekly shifts, but we just couldn’t keep those experiences to ourselves,” Heubel said. “It was something too great and too big for just us.”

ArtHeels began in 2008 after founder and UNC graduate Rebeka Burns interned for a similar program at Shands HealthCare in Gainesville, Fla.

Heubel said she hopes to bring local art therapists to the meetings. She also plans to work on larger art projects and events — like a Friday performance series at the children’s hospital.

Junior Laura Moore said she wanted to volunteer at the hospital but didn’t want to do anything medical-related. ArtHeels stood out because of the opportunity to work with children.

“I’m not pre-med,” Moore said. “I didn’t want to help with surgery or anything.”

Sophomore Holli McClendon found out about ArtHeels when applying to volunteer at the hospital.

Her interest in art therapy brought her to the group, which she said has a more refreshing atmosphere than her other hospital work.

“I leave this group feeling much better than I do leaving the others,” she said. “This is pure fun.”

Singers and clowns as well as students of health and medicine, are all welcome to join ArtHeels, Heubel said. More than artistic talent, the group looks for enthusiasm.

“It is just about having the appreciation of art and what it can do for the patients,” Heubel said.

Moore said she gets something out of every visit.

“It’s like art therapy for us too.”

Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.