Staff artworks capture reality of COVID-19

Photovoice explores 'lived experiences within healthcare' at McMullen Gallery

Story by Marni Kuhlmann

The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining moment in history, one which will forever imprint on the hearts and minds of many healthcare workers.

The pandemic has challenged all of us, creating memories — both good and bad — that will last a lifetime.

Cathy Osborne, senior operating officer at the University of Alberta Hospital, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and Kaye Edmonton Clinic, wanted to capture these memories to better understand the experiences of our frontline care providers.

To this end, she collaborated with Dr. Narmin Kassam, who tasked a project team led by Pamela Mathura, to capture the lived experiences of healthcare workers.

This was done using an established and innovative research method known as Photovoice, in which participants take photographs that capture their unique experience and point of view as well as share their perceptions and emotions.

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I wanted to give our staff and physicians an opportunity to creatively share their experiences," says Osborne. "Photovoice allows us to raise awareness, reflect, learn and share. It also helps us identity any common themes, so we can explore ways to better support our teams."

The Photovoice project — entitled Looking Through the COVID-19 Lens: Exploring the Lived Experiences Within Healthcare — showcases University of Alberta Hospital healthcare workers as they wish to be seen and heard through photographs and the written word.

Participating staff and physicians each took a photograph and wrote an accompanying narrative. From there, artist Jennie Vegt, of the Friends of University Hospitals’ Artists on the Wards program, added her artistic and creative flourish to develop the final art piece.

The project aims to understand the lived experiences of healthcare workers by identifying areas of struggle and resilience. The project team hopes the results will help identify themes, so leaders can develop supportive actions that will benefit healthcare workers.

It’s also an opportunity to determine the efficacy of Photovoice as a unique and innovative method to examine the perspectives and experiences of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The experience of this pandemic is very individual," adds Osborne.

"The final product is an amazingly powerful piece. I’m thankful to all who shared their thoughts and feelings. I would encourage others to visit the gallery to reflect on their own experiences."

Photovoice: Looking Through the COVID-19 Lens: Exploring the Lived Experiences Within Healthcare will be on display until Oct. 31 at the McMullen Gallery.