Halifax Health welcomes Kristin Heron as Arts in Medicine Coordinator

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

by: John Guthrie

Vice President, Communications, Halifax Health

Halifax Health is proud to announce Kristin Heron as the first Arts in Medicine Coordinator with Halifax Health – Center for Oncology.

Heron graduated from Rollins College with a bachelor of arts degree in studio art and music and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also received a degree in graphic design technology from Daytona State College. At UF Health Shands, she attended the Arts in Medicine summer intensive program and volunteered at the hospital during the program. Additionally, she is the curator of education, outreach and exhibitions at Ormond Memorial Museum and Gardens in Ormond Beach. She is a painter and photographer in her spare time.

Just as the arts enhance life outside of the healthcare setting, the Arts in Medicine program offers patients, healthcare workers, caregivers and families opportunities to connect with the parts of themselves that are still well.

“The arts give those in medical situations a way to share who they are as a whole person, rather than one defined by diagnosis, and in doing so pave a path for connection and empathy,” Heron said.

Patients will be experiencing a variety of creative modalities starting with visual arts projects and musical performances, eventually incorporating writing, drama and more. Art projects will include collaborative art projects, music, chair-side art kits a group experiences with patient navigators in art and music.

“Being an artist herself, Kristin appreciates the benefits of artistic outlets in healthcare settings,” said Julie Roth, service line administrator for Halifax Health – Center for Oncology. “Halifax Health – Center for Oncology is proud to have Kristin on our team as she has worked with veterans and other artistic healing programs."

Halifax Health has plans to expand this program into all aspects of its medical care with musical performance and visual art experiences. The Arts in Medicine program is made possible by a generous $400,000 endowment from Andy and Molly Clark of All Aboard Properties. According to Andy Clark, “seeing the generosity of others prompted me to think what could we do to help people in medical need and or during treatment regimens. The idea of providing therapeutic arts was a natural.”