UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine (AIM) consists of a team of artists and arts in health administrators who facilitate creative arts engagements both in the hospital setting and in the community.
Additionally, Arts in Medicine practitioners work annually with over 100 volunteers from the Gainesville community and the University of Florida. These artists and volunteers engage patients, families and staff in the creative disciplines of dance, writing, music, visual arts and contemplative arts.
The dynamic of patient and artist working together fosters open communication, provides avenues for expression, offers opportunities to deal with fear, and strengthens the patient’s sense of control during times of crisis brought about by serious illness. This collaboration serves two purposes: it allows patients and families to participate in activities that enhance the hospital experience and then to display their work in order to personalize the physical setting and make it more inspiring. AIM also seeks to bridge services from the hospital to the outpatient/community setting through continuation of care.
Arts in Medicine’s community presence has the goal of serving populations who are often overlooked or underserved, such as adults with chronic health conditions, at-risk youth in Alachua County, and more.
Click the cards below to explore our menu of programs for the clinical setting and the greater community.
Clinical or Hospital-based Programs
AIM is first and foremost a hospital-based program, serving patients, their families, and staff at the UF Health Shands Hospital. Click below to learn more and explore our offerings.
Community Programs
AIM offers a variety of arts programming tailored to underserved populations in our community. Click below to learn more and explore our community programming.
