# How Art Museums Can Foster the Flourishing of Future Physicians

## TL;DR

This paper explores how art museums can help medical students become better physicians by supporting their overall well-being and personal growth.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel perspective on using art museums to foster flourishing in medical education through the VanderWeele model.

## Key findings

- Art museums may support flourishing in medical learners through Visual Thinking Strategies.
- Integrating art museum programs can enhance five domains of human flourishing.
- More research is needed to understand the impact and mechanisms of these methods.

## Abstract

Medical schools are increasingly incorporating the arts and humanities into their curricula, often emphasizing their benefits in enhancing students’ clinical skills. However, the potential for these curricula to foster flourishing is equally, if not more, crucial. Although limited in scope, current literature suggests that art museum-based medical education, particularly as Visual Thinking Strategies, may support flourishing among medical learners—although more research is needed to assess the impact of these methods and their mechanisms on learners. In this article, the authors explore how integrating art museum-based programs into medical school curricula can enhance all five domains of the VanderWeele model of human flourishing: physical and mental health, happiness and life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships.