I will be presenting at the third annual Comics & Medicine Conference in Toronto this July! The conference is a two-day event that's open to anyone who is interested in the subject of how comics are being used in a health-care context. This is an academic conference, not a comic-con by the way. There will be a combination of academics and cartoonists presenting and there are also some workshops. It looks like a very interesting few days and I'm looking forward not only to presenting but to attending as many of the programs as I can.
Keynote speakers will be Joyce Brabner (Our Cancer Year) and Joyce Farmer (Special Exits). UK critic and journalist Paul Gravett will be opening the event.
For myself, on Monday, July 23, I will be part of the panel: The role of comics in provider patient communciation. My panel mates will be:
Sarah Lightman: Artist, curator and researcher. (she is co-creator of Laydeez do Comics and the curator of the traveling exhibit, Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women)
Nicola Streeten: Illustrator and graphic novelist (Billy, Me and You) and co-creator of Laydeez do Comics.
Lesley Fairfield: Artist and author (Tyranny)
Rosalind Penfold: Graphic novelist of Dragonslippers.
I will also present on Tuesday, July 24 in the concurrent, Health-related comics in mainstream news outlets. I'll be showing selected cartoons from my story arcs about infertility and domestic abuse and discussing the inspiration, research and reader response. I'll also show and discuss the strips I created for Canadian Cancer Society to assist with the campaign to promote regular mammogram screening.
Brian Fies, author of the award-winning Mom's Cancer and one of the organizers, shares his thoughts and more details about the conference on his blog.
Take a look at the registration page...and if this is a subject you're interested in, it promises to give you a lot of bang for your $100 registration buck. (note: after May 31, registration will increase to $135...and there is a reduced rate for students and unwaged)
Okay, then. I think I've given you enough links to last through at least two cups of caffeine!
That does sound very interesting. Wish I could be there.
I really enjoyed today's comic. Sounds like something your kids would do :) And yesterday's was exactly what my house is currently looking like!
Posted by: Swati | May 12, 2012 at 08:57 PM
Definitely, Brian and Patricia...we have to co-ordinate something!
Posted by: sandra | May 09, 2012 at 01:28 PM
Sandra, I'm really looking forward to meeting you and seeing your talks, and promise we'll show you a good time. Patricia, we'll get together for sure, although it is a busy few days. Maybe you, Sandra and I can meet for lunch on Monday or Tuesday? We'll figure it out. See you in Toronto!
Posted by: Brian Fies | May 09, 2012 at 01:07 PM
So excited for you, Sandra!! I'm afraid I won't be attending the conference, but I sure hope that there will be time for us to have coffee/drink/dinner. :)
I'd sure LOVE to finally meet Brian in person, even if for a few brief moments...
Posted by: patricia | May 09, 2012 at 10:49 AM