DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan Patient's Artwork Heads to Capitol Hill

DETROIT, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a dialysis patient undergoing treatment three times a week for Alport's Syndrome at the DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan, 16 year old Sterling Heights resident Samydra Wilson never imagined his artwork would be on display on Capitol Hill alongside winners of a national contest.

Wilson's self photograph was up against 240 photos from 56 hospitals across the nation in the 2011 Children's Hospitals Photo Exhibit, sponsored by the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI). Wilson's image and five additional Children's Hospital of Michigan winning photos, taken by volunteer photographer and former Children's Hospital resident Elliott Attisha, MD, will be among the 50 winners on display on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC this summer. One of Dr. Attisha's photos even ranked eighth in the competition's top-ten category.

Wilson is among an evolving group of DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan hemodialysis patients participating in the Imagine Photo Club, a partnership of the Children's Hospital of Michigan Family-Centered Care division. Using 35 mm point-and-shoot cameras, patients tell their stories through photographic images at home, school and the hospital.

The goal of the Imagine Photo Club is to enhance the delivery of patient care by promoting greater communication between the patient, family and caregivers. The hospital's Director of Dialysis Services Rudolph Valentini, MD, likens the insight gained from the patient's images to a 'virtual home visit.'

"Gone are the days when doctors made house calls," says Dr. Valentini. "These photographs offer an intimate view through the eyes of a patient within the context of the family and their friends." He adds, "It's often hard to get children, especially teenagers, to open up. The images can convey what the children don't say and give caregivers insight into some of the patient's barriers to getting the care they need for a more successful therapy."

Winners will be recognized during NACHRI's Creating Connections conference in Baltimore, MD, March 13 -16. The two-year exhibit will also be available for lease across the country to member hospitals, and the winning photos will be featured in NACHRI publications.

Editor's Note: For an interview or to obtain a high resolution photo copy of Wilson's or Dr. Attisha's winning art email [email protected].

Children's Hospital of Michigan

For 125 years the Children's Hospital of Michigan is the first and most experienced hospital in the state dedicated exclusively to the treatment of children. A leader internationally in neurology and neurosurgery, cardiology, oncology, and diagnostic services, it is ranked one of America's best hospitals for children. More Michigan pediatricians are trained at the Children's Hospital of Michigan than in any other facility. Children's Hospital of Michigan is one of eight hospitals operated by the Detroit Medical Center (DMC). The DMC is proud to be the Official Healthcare Services Provider of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons.

SOURCE DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan