North Star Initiative Uses Art to Honor Patients and Support Families Through Grief

Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED) students are using art to support patients receiving hospice care and their families through the grieving process.  They are doing it through a unique new program called North Star. North Star connects patients with volunteer artists to create personalized paintings that honor their lives. 

The North Star process begins with patients completing a short survey about their hobbies, interests, and life experiences. Patients then place their fingerprints on a canvas, which serves as the starting point for an artist to create a painting inspired by their stories. After a few weeks, the finished artwork is returned to the patient’s family, providing a lasting memento of their loved one. The paintings help families reflect on meaningful memories and support their healing journey.

Launched last year by CI MED students Tamanna Dhore, Ayse Ozkan, Apurva Chaturvedi and Ashley Tang, the initiative offers lessons that extend beyond the classroom for students. “North Star gives students an opportunity to participate in a side of medicine that can never be taught from a textbook. Our education often focuses heavily on diagnosis and treatment, but North Star allows students to truly understand the patient as a whole person, with hobbies, relationships, memories, and a life story beyond their medical condition,” student lead, Tamanna Dhore said.

The program also serves as a reminder of the purpose behind medical training. “Being involved in North Star reminds us that, ultimately, we are going through this journey so that we can help others and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and their loved ones,” Dhore said.

Since its launch, North Star has grown to include an eight-member student leadership team, five additional medical student artists, and eight artists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carle Health, and the broader Champaign-Urbana community. Faculty advisors Dr. Michael Aref and Dr. Judith Yasunaga, both palliative care physicians, along with Carle Health staff, provided essential guidance and support.

By honoring the people behind the diagnoses, North Star reinforces an essential lesson for future physicians: compassionate care means treating illness while recognizing each patient’s humanity and supporting the people who love them. The program continues to welcome volunteer artists interested in making a difference through their creativity.

Artists Interested in participating in the North Star program can visit the website or reach out via email: north-star@medicine.illinois.edu