The Health Sciences Education Center (HSEC) at the University of Minnesota, a hub of interprofessional collaboration and learning, became even more vibrant this November with the debut of the third Community Arts @ Health Sciences exhibition. This initiative, a collaborative effort led by a group of faculty and staff from across the health sciences and housed in the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Health Sciences, reflects HSEC’s commitment to fostering creativity and connection within the health sciences community.

Transforming Spaces into Galleries

When HSEC opened, its modern design and long white corridors left a blank canvas waiting to be filled. Recognizing the potential for these spaces to foster connection and creativity, staff and faculty across the health sciences came together to establish CA@HS. Now, the initiative curates rotating exhibitions featuring art from students, staff, and faculty, turning hallways into dynamic galleries that reflect the people who study and work there.

Laura Dammer Hess, director of the Center for Health Interprofessional Programs (CHIP), highlights the significance of this transformation: “Every time we install an exhibition, students walk by and say, ‘That’s mine!’ The art fosters a sense of belonging and makes the building feel alive. It’s not just a workspace—it’s their space.”

Collaboration at Its Core

The latest exhibition doubled its gallery space thanks to partnerships with Imagination Studio and the University of Minnesota Libraries, among others. These contributions have allowed for larger displays and more submissions, amplifying the impact of the program.

The initiative also benefits from the leadership of a newly formed Student Health Sciences Arts Advisory Board (HSAAB). This interprofessional student organization, launched in 2024 under CHIP, played an integral role in curating the recent exhibition. 

“CA@HS fosters community by giving health science students and professionals a space to showcase their talents and skills and connect artists who may have never met or known that their co-health professional also had similar interests. It shows that health professionals can be multidimensional and that there doesn't have to be an ‘or’ when saying that you are a scientist or artist, you can be both,” said Kamar Abdullahi, MD candidate, exhibition co-chair of HSAAB.

Art as a Reflection of Community

Beyond beautifying HSEC, the CA@HS initiative has become a mirror of its community, showcasing talents and stories that might otherwise remain unseen. Dammer Hess recalls how art helped shape the culture within the building, emphasizing wellbeing and creativity. “Seeing a colleague’s painting or a classmate’s photography creates a deeper connection. It’s a daily reminder of the creativity and humanity in our health sciences community.”

Jacob Swogger, senior communications technician for Health Science Classroom Services, who was a key leader in getting the initiative started, added, “Since we've created the first show, I am continually amazed at the connections that this project fosters. The number of submissions goes up each call we do. It brings together many people from different areas across the University. It allows us to create a community, not just as professionals, educators, or students, but as whole– people bringing more of their true selves to the University each day. Every time we hang new work, we get people passing by telling us how much of a difference it makes in HSEC and to the learning and work environment. CA@HS brings vibrancy to our shared space.”

The future of CA@HS is bright. Plans are underway to expand gallery spaces to other locations, including the University’s St. Paul campus. The initiative also aims to collaborate with community artists.

“From the start, the goal was to integrate art into health sciences spaces, making them more welcoming and reflective of the people within,” Dammer Hess explains. “This work isn’t just about pretty pictures—it’s about transforming spaces and fostering a positive, thoughtful culture in health sciences education.”

The Community Arts @ Health Sciences initiative exemplifies how collaboration and creativity can breathe life into shared spaces. As it continues to grow and evolve, CA@HS not only enriches the HSEC experience but also sets a precedent for integrating art into health science spaces across the University.