March 3, 2010

The College of Medicine and four other colleges at The Florida State University joined together March 2 to host “Healing and the Arts: Space Between Breaths,” an event that explored ways in which loss and grief can serve as a motivational force in people’s lives.

The centerpiece of the event was a 2 p.m. screening of the film “Space Between Breaths.” Featuring conversations with parents who have experienced the death of a child, including parents who lost children at Columbine, on Sept. 11 and in the Iraq war, the documentary offered a healing perspective on loss.

Two-time Grammy-nominated recording artist Cindy Bullens, who contributed the musical score for the film, performed live following the film presentation. The event concluded with a panel discussion that included Bullens; Luther and Rosemary Smith, producers of “Space Between Breaths”; Nick Mazza, interim dean of the College of Social Work; Sally Karioth, professor of nursing; Mindi Rojas, an art therapist at Big Bend Hospice; Dr. Harold Bland, a pediatrician and interim chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the College of Medicine; and Darcy Walworth, assistant professor of music therapy.

“This allows us to share with our community an event that highlights the resilience of families that have had significant losses in their lives,” said Pam Graham, associate professor of the College of Social Work, who coordinated the event.

It was sponsored by the colleges of Medicine, Music, Nursing, Social Work and Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance. Physicians were able to earn Continuing Medical Education credits for attending.