Letters
The arts and visual matters of other sorts have apparently been on the minds of readers, judging from the recent mail in our in-box.
Lettering in the arts
My thanks for the coverage of the arts and humanities activities at DMS and DHMC in the Fall issue [letter-writer Wikoff's election as president of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare was covered in a story on page 8]. Catherine Tudish captured the essence of the program and provided a good understanding of the logic behind using the arts to support the healing process.
I was also pleased that a participant in our Creativity elective, David Holznagel, was featured in the same issue [in the cover story]. His project is quite extraordinary.
However, the spirit of our program is collaboration. Thus I'd like to point out that activities at DHMC are developed in partnership with DHMC Arts, the Medical Center's arts committee. And the tile project was coordinated by Gail Malsin, in cooperation with Liz Schwartz, DHMC arts coordinator. They recruited the participants and work spaces and worked closely with sculptor Emile Birch. Gail is also the director of ArtCare— the person who recruits, trains and supervises the undergraduates doing arts activities at DHMC. And she organizes the "In Poetry and Prose" series.
Again, my thanks for bringing attention to Dartmouth's remarkable arts-in-medicine program; it is a recognized leader, and that's because of the combined efforts of many people.
Naj Wikoff
DHMC, Lebanon, N.H.
A striking match
As a visitor to DHMC, I was fortunate enough to pick up the Summer issue of Dartmouth Medicine, featuring the striking artwork of Patrick Saine. Unusual, interesting, and striking indeed. It evokes the magnificent work of the late artist Victor Vasarely. Congratulations!
Desi K. Bognar
Peacham, Vt.
Let me point out . . .
Your publication is highly informative and interesting—at least in my case—to the layperson. However, my enthusiasm and pleasure are quickly lost as I begin to read it. Problem: Print is too small. Reader must squint. Please consider redesigning the layout or choosing another font. I suspect others feel the same. Anyway, good luck.
Nicholas M. Patsis
Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Patsis has a good point about the point size of our type. The constraints of our design are a factor, however, and a full redesign is a complex and expensive process. But we do appreciate the feedback.
Admirer from afar
I like to think of myself as more than just any subscriber to Dartmouth Medicine, because of my long-time association with the Medical School and Hanover. My husband, Walter Lobitz, was the first dermatologist at the Hitchcock Clinic and was also on the faculty of DMS. Our family lived for 12 happy years in Hanover, and many faculty of that time are still good friends. Our sons both graduated from Dartmouth, and our daughter, some 40 years later, still speaks of Hanover as "home."
I have watched the evolution of DMS with great admiration. The institution is doing all the right things. Reading the reports from the VA Hospital and the Ethics Program and, especially, Dartmouth Medicine makes me wish I could partake of all the great things going on there.
I have a friend who'd like to receive Dartmouth Medicine, which she has enjoyed at my house—as have I. I think it is undebatably the best medical magazine I've seen, and, thanks to my family's many medical affiliations, I see a lot!
Caroline Rockwell Lobitz
Portland, Ore.
Consternation over variation
Last evening on NBC News, there was a segment about how health care varies across America. It referred to a publication titled The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.
I am the director of a state agency in Virginia that expends over $200 million annually on behavioral health care for children. My staff and I have observed what appears to be a pattern of geographical differences in how children are treated (such as a choice between in-home or institutional care), depending simply on where in Virginia they live. Based on the brief bit I heard last evening, I believe the Atlas findings will assist us in our attempt to refocus state and local thinking about how we make decisions.
Can you advise me where I can get a copy of the Atlas?
Alan G. Saunders
Richmond, Va.
The Dartmouth Atlas can be purchased from its publisher, American Hospital Association Press, at 800/242-2626. Or most of the current edition and all of previous editions can be accessed at no charge at www.dartmouthatlas.org.
We're always glad to hear from readers —whether it's a letter from a longtime subscriber who's weighing in with an opinion, or a note from someone who would like to become a longtime subscriber. In fact, we are happy to send Dartmouth Medicine—on a complimentary basis—to anyone who is interested in the subjects that are covered in the magazine. Both subscription requests and letters to the editor may be sent to: Editor, Dartmouth Medicine, One Medical Center Drive (HB 7070), Lebanon, NH 03756, or dartmed@dartmouth.edu.