The society organizes free studio sessions where students sculpt, paint, draw and are encouraged to follow their own artistic directions.

Diana Jo, a first-year student in the medical school, found classmates who shared her vision and took the initiative to form a society that would inspire visual creativity.

“Art challenges you to observe, interpret and develop an understanding of what you wish to convey, and then convey that idea through your media,” said Jo. “This process is sometimes strictly observational, methodical and straight-forward. Conversely, there are times where you have no idea where your work is going and you just keep working on different aspects of it or try changing your perspective and approach.”

In many ways, this process draws upon parallels to the practice of medicine.

“I believe practicing art in any capacity will benefit one’s ability to perceive and express themselves, and the application of this mindset to medicine is exactly how I imagine a student living in the image of Frank H. Netter,” she said.

Events within the Visual Arts Society are held twice a month and include trips to museums.

The university will celebrate the first Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine graduates in the TD Bank Sports Center on the York Hill Campus on Sunday, May 14, at 1 p.m.