What can comic art about illness and health care offer patients and families as they navigate health challenges? This month on Ethics Talk, we discuss why comic art is a unique and powerful medium for communicating about difficult and emotional encounters with illness and health care.

Dr James Van Arsdall shares his experience of sitting for a portrait after his treatment for oral cancer, and Dr Mark Gilbert describes how he came to do portraiture in clinical settings. 

Kelly Leonard, executive director of insights and applied improvisation at Second City Works, relates how improvisation can help clinicians build relationships with patients and improve their outcomes.

Ryan Sallans, MA joins Ethics Teaching and Learning to discuss how to make health care spaces welcoming for LGBTQ+ patients.

Dr Ximena Lopez joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Antonio D. Garcia: “How Cisgender Clinicians Can Help Prevent Harm During Encounters With Transgender Patients.”

Abigail E. Lowe joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Shawn G. Gibbs: “How Should Health Care Organizations Protect Personnel in Environmental Services and Related Fields?”

Professor Nicole Hallet joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “Wage Theft and Worker Exploitation in Health Care.”

Dr Evguenia S. Popova joins Ethics Talk to discuss how collaborations between academic health centers and arts institutions can help students build their professional skills in empathic responsiveness and communication.

Dr Whitney Riley Linsenmeyer joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “Should Clinicians Care About How Food Behaviors Express Gender Identity?”

Dr James B. Young joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article: “Does Osler’s Aequanimitas Inform Our Contemporary Pursuit of Stillness?”