Medical student spearheads book drive to support patients
Morgan Andreoni organizes book donation for the Arts in Medicine office.
Morgan Andreoni is in her third year of medical school at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville. While working with her patients, she always asks about their social history to find more ways to support them.
After learning one of her patients enjoyed reading, Morgan wanted to find a book for them. She heard there were books available for employees and patients in the Arts and Medicine office, so she reached out to Arts in Medicine Program Coordinator Lauren Anter.
UF Health Jacksonville’s Arts in Medicine is a nonprofit program that implements interdisciplinary arts to enhance the healing process in patients. Lauren mainly works with patients at the bedside and in workshops, using art as a way to relieve stress and provide a creative distraction. As part of the many therapeutic offerings they provide, the office has a selection of books. Lauren typically takes a book with her to read at the bedside of a patient who is intubated, but they are also available for employees to give to their patients.
Lauren offered some of these books to Morgan, and her patient quickly read through them. Encouraged by this, Morgan asked if she could collect books in the community to diversify the book offering. While speaking with Reetu Grewal, MD, FAAFP, an associate professor of family medicine and Morgan’s preceptor and mentor, they decided to ask around for book donations, so more patients at UF Health Jacksonville could benefit in the future.
Morgan posted on her neighborhood Facebook page and asked her family, friends and classmates if anyone had spare books to donate. The word quickly spread and donations started pouring in. Morgan had nearly 100 books within a week.
In total, she collected an estimated 300 books. Morgan was overwhelmed by the response and the Arts in Medicine office was overflowing with books. Thanks to Morgan’s effort, there is now a wealth of books, including a variety of authors and a small children’s book selection.
“We received so many books that I was able to donate a portion of children’s books to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, so that team could distribute books to the kids in their care,” Lauren said.
Morgan and Lauren want associates at UF Health Jacksonville to know these books are available to them and their patients for free and no return is required. Whether you’re serving adults or children, there are options to choose from.
No more book donations are needed at this time, but Lauren invites employees to contact her if they’re interested in selecting a book to give their patient. For more information on how to pick up a book, call 904-244-1145 or email LaurenCorbin.Anter@jax.ufl.edu.