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Indeed, honing skills of observation and problem solving and helping physi- cians form deeper connections are just a few of the benefits cited by proponents of studying the arts and humanities and harnessing the imagination through creative endeavors. Becoming Masters of Observation According to Dr. Mangione, creative individuals engage the world around them in a more communicative and holistic way, which can make artists better obser vers. In fact, he notes, Rembrandt first described congeni- ta l sy philis some 200 years before physicians did. Many who favor greater integration of arts and humanities into medicine also cite Albert Einstein, who frequently spoke about the importance of imagina- tion and dabbled in creative interests when he encountered difficulties with his research. "Einstein's wife, Elsa, used to say that whenever Einstein would get stuck, he would go into his room and play a few chords on the v iolin or piano, and then he would no longer be stuck," Dr. Mangione says. "We know that Einstein's brain had a much larger corpus callosum, which leads to easier and better hemisphere con- nection. A good way to increase the size of the corpus callosum in human beings is to teach them how to play a musical instrument." The Arts in Daily Practice Fostering creativity through the arts and humanities may also help physi- cians forge better connections with colleagues and patients. For example, the performing arts, especially theater, require reading nuances and nonverbal cues — skills that can be essential when interacting with patients. The arts also foster a greater sen- sitivity to suffering, which can make doctors more empathetic, according to Niamh Kelly, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia. "The world of the arts and humani- ties — aptly named because it puts us in touch with our human side — makes us aware of the human condition by connecting with us on a feelings basis," Kelly says. "Think how often the theme of suffering is evoked in great drama, music or literature. This is a universal human feeling. If we can connect at a level of shared understanding with another person's suffering, we are likely to be more empathetic than if we see them simply as a problem to be solved." But how do you bring the creative arts into daily interactions with patients and colleagues? In a commentary in Academic Medicine, Kelly suggested physicians and healthcare executives start by developing their own creative interests and discussing their pursuits with others. T h r o u g h c o n t i n u i n g m e d i c a l education, academic journa ls a nd conferences, physicians have ample opportunity to advance their academic knowledge, she notes. However, "attention to the important role of the imagination in healthcare practice is usua lly ignored," Kelly says. "In giving attention to their own creative needs, healthcare leaders can model the importance of remaining engaged in pursuits that stimulate the imagination." ■ A N O U T L E T FO R EM OTI O N A L H E A LI N G ONE OF THE most important roles the arts play in medicine is primarily cathartic. Physicians who deal with pain and suffering on a daily basis need a channel for self-expression, which writing poetry, playing music and drawing can provide. Salvatore Mangione, MD, Associate Professor at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, draws and plays guitar — two interests he feels make him a better person. "[These pursuits] help me metabolize emotional poisons, such as pain and suffering, and make some sense out of them," Dr. Mangione says. "I hope in my interactions I am more empathetic and more tolerant of ambiguity." He also believes creative pursuits could help lessen physician and medical school burnout, which is a growing problem. In 2013, he took a group of 40 medi- cal students to an art school in Philadelphia for drawing lessons, with the goal of helping them become more astute observers. He saw the benefi ts fi rsthand. "The feedback we received was terrifi c," Dr. Mangione says. "The students loved it, and they didn't burn out. They felt like the lessons were a form of therapy."