Medical learners discover artistic landscape through paper-making workshop

After a busy week preparing for their first exam at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 18 medical students took a break from studying to learn about the history and process of making paper from cellulose fiber.  

Ron Shaull, a central Ohio-based hand papermaker who teaches how to make sheets of paper from pulp, led a paper-making workshop offered through the college’s Medicine and the Arts Program. This was his fourth workshop at the college, and he says he enjoys every moment he spends leading people through the process.  

“There is always a sense of wonder when they realize this is a relatively simple process and that they have artistic talent,” Shaull said.  

After explaining how he breaks down fabric and plant fibers to create the pulp, he walked them through the process of dipping the screen mould into a vat of water mixed with pulp and moving it through the slurry. As he showed them how to transfer the wet sheet onto an absorbent surface to dry, he assured them they would receive guidance as they created their pieces. 

“I promise you, this will be much easier for you than your first surgery,” he said, laughing.   

Everyone jumped right into the process at three stations, where they started making paper sheets with three different forms of pulp — denim, cotton and flax. Nandini Bangalore, a first-year medical learner from California, said the intensity of coursework and studying since the term began affected her ability to find time to engage with art, which she loves creating. 

“We have our first exam coming up,” Bangalore said, adding, “I needed to come to the workshop to create and destress a bit.” 

Another medical learner, Dylan Riley, who moved to Ohio from Washington state, shared that after the workshop, he was going to write a poem about it.  

“I write poetry,” Riley said.  “After I process what I learned and what this meant, I’ll be able to share what moved me.” 

Throughout the year, there are a variety of workshops, artistic performances and opportunities for faculty, learners, staff and community members to submit their created pieces into the annual Health Sciences Art Show. Mike Horgan, the program manager, says that arts programming merges health and creativity across Ohio State’s seven health science colleges.  

“Research shows that the arts integrate mind, body and spirit,” Horgan said.  “And it increases understanding of difficult abstractions while elevating higher-order thinking skills.” 

Learn more about upcoming events and programming.