Welcome to Richter Library's Graphic Medicine Guide! Graphic medicine in its simplest terms is the discussion of medicine in comic and graphic novel formats. This guide's intention is to continue that discussion and teach students, faculty, and staff about this emerging narrative.
Czerwiec, M. K. (2015). Graphic medicine manifesto. University Park, Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press.
Czerwiec, M. K. (2015). Graphic medicine manifesto. University Park, Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press.
Saily Marrero
- Nursing & Health Studies, Biology, and Psychology Librarian
- sxm1838@miami.edu
- (305) 284-2040
WHAT ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS?
"Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer."
– Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics
WHAT IS GRAPHIC MEDICINE?
"The intersection between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare."
– Dr. Ian Williams, comics artist and physician & founder of GraphicMedicine.org
WHY IS GRAPHIC MEDICINE USEFUL?
Houk, K., & Pomoutius, A. (2020). Drawn to graphic medicine: Bringing comics into medical librarianship [Webinar]. Medical Library Association.
"Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer."
– Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics
WHAT IS GRAPHIC MEDICINE?
"The intersection between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare."
– Dr. Ian Williams, comics artist and physician & founder of GraphicMedicine.org
WHY IS GRAPHIC MEDICINE USEFUL?
- Develop critical thinking skills, visual literacy skills, and futher creat empathy
- Comics convey large amounts of information
- They are visual representations of knowledge
- They easily engage students, patients, providers, caregivers, & etc.
- Makes invisble illnesses, visible (ex. mental health)
- Graphic novels cover a wide array of topics
- Processing text and images together allow for better recall and learning
- Offers perspectives from a wide array and diverse people from all aspects of health (Houk & Pomoutius, 2020)
Houk, K., & Pomoutius, A. (2020). Drawn to graphic medicine: Bringing comics into medical librarianship [Webinar]. Medical Library Association.
- Graphic Medicine
Graphic Medicine is a site that explores the interaction between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare. We are a community of academics, health carers, authors, artists, and fans of comics and medicine. The site is maintained by an editorial team under the direction of the Graphic Medicine International Collective. - Pathographics
The Pathographics website is dedicated to the continuing discussion of graphic medicine which address liminal experiences such as illness, chronic disease, and disability, offering individual stories of patients, family members, and health care professionals - National Library of Medicine - Ill Conceived & Well Drawn
NLM has resources on the topic of Graphic Medicine as well as an exhibit collection and educational resources.
- Annals Graphic Medicine
From Annals of Internal Medicine, Annals Graphic Medicine is a collection of comics by people who receive or provide health care and address medical topics. - Illustrated PEN
The Illustrated PEN is at the intersection of literature, journalism, and visual storytelling. They feature both fiction and non-fiction graphic narratives on a variety of topics including comics journalism and illustrated reportage, stories of social justice, and personal stories among others. - AMA Journal of Ethics Art Gallery
A collection of user submitted original artwork that explores the "ethical dimensions of health or health care". - Public Health Insider Comics
The Public Health Insider website provides news about the effrots to protect the health and well-being of Seattle and King County in Washington. You can see their collection of webcomics here. - A Let's Talk About It: A Graphic Guide to Mental Health
From the Cartoon Studies website, users can read and download this webcomic about mental health. - A Health and Wealth: A Graphic Guide to the U.S. Healthcare System
From the Cartoon Studies website, users can read and download this webcomic about the U.S. Healthcare. - The Ink Vessel
A collection of comics about the medical world created by Nathan Gray, M.D. a doctor specilizing in Internal Medicine and Palliative Care. - PSU Collection of Graphic Narratives
A collection of graphic medicine web comics from fourth-year medical students in Pennsylvania State University.
- Comics for Good
Comics For Good aims to provide factual information through comics and published weekly comics about COVID-19 during the pandemic. - Graphic Medicine - COVID-19 Comics
The Graphic Medicine website curated comics about COVID-19 with reliable information by categories; educational, vaccine, ethics/social justice, caregivers, patients, and others.
- Adventures in Depression
An excerpt from Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half, this chapter explores the author's experience coping with depression. - Cancer Owl
Created by Matthew Paul Mewhoter, Cancer Owl explores his experiences living with cancer. - Raised on Ritalin
Created by Tyler Page, Raise on Ritalin: A Medicated Memoir looks at the author's personal experiences with ADHD, medication, and psychiatry.