GENETIC DIAGNOSTIC FUNNEL | Sujal Manohar

“For a medical school capstone project, I conducted interviews with families impacted by genetic conditions. The piece was inspired by a patient’s family who searched for answers for twenty-seven years before receiving a genetic diagnosis. In contrast to the rapid clarity sometimes provided by common laboratory or imaging tests, this work highlights how uncertainty and unanswered questions can persist for decades. Advances in genetic testing have now begun to shorten this journey, offering long-awaited explanations for families. This work builds upon my prior drawing, “Diagnostic Funnel” (published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2023), with a focus on a longer genetic diagnostic journey rather than a quick differential.”

Sujal Manohar lives and thrives at the intersection of the arts and sciences. Manohar has designed collaborative murals in healthcare settings, taught art to individuals with intellectual disabilities and led art gallery tours for adults with dementia. Manohar, who is a neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania, holds degrees in neuroscience and visual arts from Duke University and an MD from Baylor College of Medicine. Find more of her work at sujalmanohar.com