CORAL logo - Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab


CU AMC logo
National Endowment for the Arts
Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program
lighthouse writers workshop logo

Summary

In the United States, over 1 million critical care healthcare professionals treat our most seriously ill patients. As a result of their stressful work environment, these healthcare professionals often experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and burnout syndrome. More than ever, providers are looking for tools to help them draw on their resilience and cope with work's stressors.

Creative arts programs use a variety of media to engage with peer groups, enhance the connection to work, and cultivate positive coping skills. Our creative arts program combines visual, musical, writing, and physical expression therapies and techniques to help providers identify, explore, and transform psychological difficulties.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Research Lab

Our team is one of a handful of research labs supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Through our partnership, we hope to create a culture that embraces art as a tool for learning and healing in our community. To learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts, visit their website here.

CORAL four colored circles overlappingOur vision

We encourage healthcare providers, hospital support staff, and medical campus workers to find a creative outlet, build their identity, and establish a sense of community through the arts.

By creating a more engaged workforce, we can support healthcare workers in their efforts to improve patient outcomes, enhance patient and family satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs.

CORAL four colored circles overlappingInspiring collaboration

We are a multi-disciplinary group of researchers, doctors, artists, and therapists seeking to harness the power of creative arts to promote the psychological health of healthcare professionals.

Together, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program at Children's Hospital Colorado, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and the National Endowment for the Arts are building capacity, engaging with the community, and conducting research that explores the psychological benefits of creative arts.

CORAL four colored circles overlappingRecent highlights of our work:

Listen to Our Team on an International Featured Podcast! 

Episode #17: Dr. Marc Moss & Katherine Reed.

The art of Resilience.

Summary: In this episode, we talk about the Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab at the University of Colorado Medical Campus. What does it mean to build resiliency among medical care teams? Why art is the way to do so? How medical teams actually building their resilience through the program? How is the program teaching resiliency? All these questions and more in our new episode: https://link.chtbl.com/coral

IG - Marc & Katherine

Quick Study: Helping Health Professionals with Arts Programs and Therapies

August 18th, 2022

In this episode, we discuss a study about the benefits of arts programs and creative arts therapies for healthcare workers during COVID-19. A transcript is available here.

 

Other highlights

The National Academies Press recently released a report titled Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being (2019). Read the report here.

CORAL was also featured in two articles highlighting the use of the arts to reduce symptoms of burnout of healthcare professionals. Check out the PBS News Hour and 5280.com features!

National endowment for the arts research labs logoThe opinions expressed in materials on this website are those of the author(s) and do not represent the views of the National Endowment for the Arts Office of Research & Analysis or the National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts Endowment does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information included in this material and is not responsible for any consequences of its use. This NEA Research Lab is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts (Award#: 1855492-38-C-19).

Pulmonary Sciences (SOM)

CU Anschutz

Research Complex II

12700 East 19th Avenue

9C03

Aurora, CO 80045

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