Different kind of medicine
At first glance, a hospital may seem like the last place you’d expect to find a live guitar performance, a watercolor workshop or a vibrant sunset taking shape on a canvas. But step into the lobby of one of Roper St. Francis’ hospitals on the right day, and you might see all three.
This is the heart of Arts in Medicine , a growing initiative at Roper St. Francis Healthcare that is changing the way patients, families and caregivers experience healing. Initially championed by Volunteer Manager Peg Hughes and now adopted across the entire health system, the program brings visual artists, musicians, writers and performers into the hospital environment – not just to decorate the walls, but to stir something deeper: connection, calm and, often, joy.
“We know from research – and from what we see every day, – that the arts can reduce anxiety, ease pain and improve mood,” said Hughes. “But beyond that, they give people something that medicine alone sometimes can’t: a sense of peace, purpose and presence.”
A program built on heart and data
The program began as a pilot at Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital in 2022, supported by Vice President of Mission Mark Dickson, Director of Volunteers Marianne Seabrook and a grant from the Roper St. Francis Foundation . The impact was immediate. Patients lingered in lobbies longer. Nurses paused in their busy shifts to listen to music or pick up a paintbrush. Visitors found unexpected comfort in a stranger’s artwork.
The results were measurable, too. During one painting session, Hughes took participants’ pulses before and after the class. In just 90 minutes, the average heart rate dropped from 95 to 75 beats per minute.
“That’s not just relaxation,” Hughes said. “That’s healing.”
With such promising outcomes, the Roper St. Francis Foundation agreed to pledge $25,000 over five years to expand the program across all four Roper St. Francis Healthcare hospitals.
Stories that stay with you
The Arts in Medicine program is full of stories that speak to the power of human connection. One of its earliest volunteers, Jann Owens – a nurse practitioner, trained art therapist and cancer survivor – began painting after the loss of her mother and during her own cancer treatment. Today, she uses her talent to help others heal.
While painting a sunset in the hospital lobby, Owens met a couple whose son was killed in the Mother Emanuel AME tragedy. They talked about grief, loss, and the comfort they found in her painting. “God was present during our visit,” Owens said.
A new generation of healing artists
Not all contributors wear white coats. Gracie Coleman, a 15-year-old student, honors her late father – who passed away from colon cancer – with every brushstroke. Inspired by his love of music and the outdoors, she launched Harvest Moon Artworks, selling her paintings to raise money for colon cancer awareness through the Roper St. Francis Foundation.
“I use art to remember him,” Coleman said. “But I also hope it inspires other people going through something difficult to feel like they’re not alone.”
Coleman donated a painting she finished during a live painting session at Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital to the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center. During the event, nurse navigators offered education on colon cancer screenings.
Music that opens doors
Art doesn’t always come in the form of a brushstroke. Sometimes, it’s a song. Volunteer musician Kevin Kreamer serves as the hospital’s “lead guitarist in residence.” With his guitar in hand, he visits patients’ rooms, plays their favorite songs and listens to their stories.
“Music opens doors and creates a calming effect,” said Hughes. “Kevin’s soothing voice and guitar draw patients in. Some even request him by name.”
Kreamer sees each visit as more than a performance. “Every patient has a song,” he said. “And every visit teaches me something.”
An invitation to create
This spring, Arts in Medicine is expanding to include regular performances, classes and creative sessions at all four Roper St. Francis Healthcare hospitals. The program is actively seeking volunteers with a passion for the arts and a heart for service – musicians, painters, writers, crafters, photographers and more.
No medical background is required. Just a willingness to share your time and talent with those who may need a little light in a hard moment.
“Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or playing a song that’s been with you for decades, there’s a place for you here,” Hughes said. “Art reminds us that healing is not just about the body. It’s about the spirit, too.”
Interested in volunteering?
If you’d like to share your creative gifts through the Arts in Medicine program at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, contact one of our volunteer managers at a location near you .