ILLNESS DOES NOT BECOME IDENTITY | Stephanie Francalancia
Stephanie Francalancia is an illustrator and aspiring physician who uses creative practice to connect better with those around her. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan with majors in Art & Design and Biology. She is inspired by her grandmother, who was diagnosed with dementia but still reveals her personality and expression through painting and knitting. Francalancia created these illustrations while working closely with an inpatient, Mr. A, at a memory loss center. Her portraits aim to display Mr. A's identity while he simultaneously produced his own pieces, which are the black and white paintings. Hoping to continue illuminating patients’ narratives through art, Francalancia will be a graduate student at Columbia University’s Narrative Medicine Program starting in the fall.