Art and medicine will mingle at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine when the school kicks off its Fall Art Show.

The school invites local artists and the public -- as well as its faculty, staff, and students -- to attend the show on Nov. 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Guests can view the art on the school's first and second floors and attend a reception in the school's atrium.

Sponsored by the school's Creativity in Health Education Program, the show features a range of mediums, from paintings to sculptures, photographs, and drawings. More than two dozen local artists will display their work. The show will also feature a special gallery of pieces by Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students.

This is the Creativity in Health Education Program's second art show.

"We received terrific feedback about our inaugural show, which featured pieces from local artists and high school students," said Dr. David Trinkle, the school's associate dean for community and culture and a co-founder and committee member of the Creativity in Health Education Program. "We wanted to build on that success and involve in the school's community those who get to experience art every day. The perfect group to reach out to is our students who, by the artwork they have submitted, have proven they are talented in and out of the classroom."

The primary goal of the Creativity in Health Education Program is to expand the social, cultural, and humanistic awareness of the school's students, faculty, and staff by integrating the arts into their daily routines. The program also aims to involve community members in the life of the school.

"The Creativity in Health Education Program has been a dream of mine since coming to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine several years ago," said Dr. Cynda Johnson, founding dean of the medical school. "The inaugural show illustrated how the arts can contribute to healing and promote diversity. Our second show, especially with the pieces our students contributed, is sure to accomplish the same."

A special gallery featuring artwork of the late Morgan Dana Harrington will remain on display for the second show. Harrington was a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student when she was murdered two years ago. Her parents -- Dr. Daniel Harrington, the school's senior associate dean, and his wife, Gil -- have created a scholarship at the school in their daughter's memory.

The pieces in the Fall Art Show will be on display through February 2012. The building usually has restricted access, so the Nov. 14 event will provide an ideal opportunity for the public to view the artwork.

"We encourage anyone with an interest in art, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, or both to attend the show," said Trinkle. "There will be a little something for everyone."

The Creativity in Health Education Program will host several shows each year. To learn about submission guidelines and dates for upcoming shows, email Alison Matthiessen.

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