Portraits of Humanity and More

Portraits of Humanity Art and medicine are inextricably linked for Scottish-born artist Mark Gilbert, who creates portraits in the realm of medical humanities. Mark’s recent work raises questions associated with the uncertainties, confusion and isolation associated with dementia for both patient and caregiver, while simultaneously offering glimpses into the healing aspects of art. In a visit to his studio, we capture Mark at work on his latest portrait of a nurse practitioner as part of his portraiture series on frontline healthcare workers that began during the pandemic. We examine how such works can inform humanity, transform patients and caregivers, and explore the relationship between medicine and the humanities.

Lessons from Connie Connie Miner was coming of age when Title IX became law in 1972. A natural athlete, Miner excelled in many sports and even substituted on Red Cloud’s summer league baseball team. Organized women’s sports were limited while Miner was in high school, but at the University of Nebraska at Kearney she played on the collegiate softball team. Upon graduation, she went from being a player to the team’s unpaid assistant softball coach while also working a factory job full-time at night to support herself. Within a relatively short window of time, Miner earned her way to becoming a Division I head softball coach where she advocated for equity for her student athletes throughout her highly successful 40-year coaching career.

Hope in Bloom Hoping it would help her grief-stricken husband cope with the loss of his son, Jan Welhelm became set on transforming an empty city lot in the town of Humbolt into a splendidly, beautiful garden. The result of her efforts, and those who pitched in to make her vision a reality, is a wonderfully pleasing, peaceful space where anyone suffering from loss may find respite from their sorrow.