Improving Healthcare Through The Arts

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program (AHP) was created more than 30 years ago. Director Emeritus Nancy Morgan developed the program, and fiber artist Lauren Kingsland was the first artist-in-residence. Other artists, including visual artist Nevin Bossart and musician Anthony Hyatt soon joined. 

The AHP now has 18 artists-in-residence working throughout the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. With our free virtual classes, the AHP’s outreach has expanded to improve the lives of more than 67,000 community members worldwide since its inception in 2020.



Bettina Brunner

Visual Artist-In-Residence

Bettina is a self-taught painter and potter based in Reston, Virginia. She teaches art classes at various venues, including the League of Reston Artists, Art House7, and her own studio. Bettina has exhibited her work in galleries and shows across the U.S., including in Bethesda, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Reston, Virginia, as well as internationally in San-Quentin-la-Poterie, Provence, France and Stockholm, Sweden. Her work reflects a passion for creativity and a commitment to sharing the artistic process with others.

Katie Harris-Banks

Movement Artist-In-Residence

Katie is an experienced registered yoga teacher with 16 years of teaching experience teaching group classes and private lessons. In her teaching, Katie strives to create a practice that is safe, yet playful and challenging. Katie’s style is influenced by the flow and vigor of Ashtanga, the alignment and precision of Iyengar, and her skilled knowledge of the body from a dancer’s perspective (Katie is also a professional modern dancer, dance teacher and choreographer.

Lauren Kingsland

Visual Art Movement Artist-In-Residence

Lauren Kingsland provides hands-on creative engagement projects and mindfulness activities to patients, caregivers and hospital staff to help cope with the stresses and transformations of serious illness. Her goal is always to see the patient as a whole person, not as a diagnosis. At bedside or at her table in the clinic, Lauren uses beaded bracelets, prayer flags, origami cranes, sewing, quilts, crocheting, and more activities as tools for connection and feelings of accomplishment.

Dylan Klempner

Expressive Writer-In-Residence

Dylan Klempner is a writer and multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on the role of creativity in health and healing. He has served as a writer-in-residence for leading Arts in Health programs, including University of Florida’s (UF) Health Arts in Medicine and as a lecturer with UF’s Center for the Arts in Medicine.

Carrie Monger

Movement Artist-In-Residence

Carrie Monger is both a professional dancer and Licensed Professional Counselor with a M.Ed in Counseling.This unique combination of skills makes her a great Movement Artist-in-Residence with the Arts and Humanities Program. In May 2019, Carrie began providing stretch breaks for staff members throughout MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and has been a wonderful addition to the AHP team. Carrie has performed as a professional dancer for Jane Franklin Dance, K2 Dance, BosmaDance, Dance Place, and more.

Jennifer Wilkin Penick

Visual Artist-In-Residence

Since May 2018, Jennifer has been working at the back table in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Clinic (LCCC) bringing card making and other art projects to patients, caregivers, medical staff, and visitors. Jennifer studied studio art in Portland, Oregon, before receiving an MA in Italian art history from the University of Washington. She lived in Rome, Italy, for twenty-five years before moving to Virginia in 2001.

Michelle Berberet

Expressive Writer-In-Residence

Michelle, a writer who discovered the benefits of writing over thirty years ago when she had breast cancer, came to Lombardi in 2009. Nancy Morgan, the Director of the Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program at the time, trained Michelle in expressive writing. Michelle then combined this training with her other love: mix media arts. In her effort to promote the benefits of writing and self-care, Michelle leads workshops in which staff make journals or cards using a whole range a mix media materials. When the staff makes cards, Michelle asks each participant to write an encouraging note to him/herself and address an envelope with his/her address. Michelle mails them at a later date. Staff report being surprised and pleased by the notes from their earlier selves.