"The Art of Waiting": Using Creativity to Heal Cancer Patients

Strategic Insights -

As a cancer patient, Alene Lim faced the anxiety-provoking experience of waiting for chemotherapy treatments. However, she discovered the therapeutic power of creativity through art-making. Now, as a graduate student in Boston University's master's in arts education program, Lim leads "Art of Waiting" workshops at Boston Medical Center, providing chemotherapy patients with stress-relieving activities like origami, pipe cleaner sculptures, and puppetry.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lim's cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment sparked her interest in art as a means of processing and expressing her emotions.
  • Her "Art of Waiting" workshops at Boston Medical Center aim to reduce anxiety and boredom among chemotherapy patients by engaging them in creative activities.
  • The workshops are a collaboration between Boston University's College of Fine Arts and the BU Medical Campus, part of the Arts|Lab initiative.
  • Lim's own experience as a cancer patient informs her work, allowing her to empathize with patients and create a safe and supportive environment for them to express themselves creatively.
  • Her goal is not only to provide stress relief but also to help patients feel positively about their waiting time.
  • Lim's future plans include using puppets to educate young patients about their symptoms and working with art in medical settings to create healing experiences.

Statistics:

  • Alene Lim was diagnosed with thyroid cancer the summer before she started college and has been in remission for about a decade.
  • She estimates that only a portion of patients participate in the "Art of Waiting" workshops, but that is not the primary goal.
  • Lim's interest in puppetry led her to study with Felice Amato, CFA assistant professor of art, arts education.
  • In 2025, Lim participated in the Emerging Creatives Student Summit, a respected arts summit, and collaborated on a design project for a super-sensory playground.
  • The project granted her team a grant and an invitation to present at another conference this October.

Sources:

  • Boston University: "The Art of Waiting" workshops at Boston Medical Center.
  • Alene Lim's personal statements and interviews.
  • Felice Amato's statements regarding Lim's involvement in puppetry classes.
  • Emerging Creatives Student Summit: 2025 Emerging Creatives Student Summit.