Art in Support of Healing: Medical Humanities and Medical Training 

Professor Michele Pier Luca Guarino is an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome and Coordinator of the Integrated Course in Clinical Methodology at the Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. He carries out clinical, teaching, and research activities in the field of functional gastrointestinal disorders and gut microbiota. Since 2022, he has been the Head of the Unit for Functional Intestinal Disorders and Microbiota at the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation, a national reference center for the study and treatment of these conditions. Since 2011, he has served as Deputy Director of the Postgraduate School in Diseases of the Digestive System, and, since 2022, he has also been the Rector’s Delegate for Public Engagement, actively contributing to strengthening the relationship between the University and broader society. He earned his medical degree from the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, specialized in Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata", and obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental and Clinical Hepatology from Sapienza University of Rome. Author of numerous scientific publications, his research focuses on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional gastrointestinal disorders, and the interactions between diet and microbiota, with a particular emphasis on personalized and integrated approaches to patient care. 

Professor Vincenza Ferrara is a Highly Qualified Expert and Adjunct Professor of Special Pedagogy in the Master's Degree Program in Nursing Sciences. Until 2022, she directed the Laboratory of Art and Medical Humanities at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. She holds a degree in Humanities and is an expert in educational technologies. Her research has focused on the use and reuse of digital cultural heritage in educational contexts. She was the principal investigator of the Erasmus-funded project EdMuse – Education and Museum: Cultural Heritage for Science Learning (2015–2017). Since 2014, her research has concentrated on the field of Medical Humanities, particularly on the use of cultural heritage to foster professional competencies and mitigate stress among healthcare personnel, starting from university-level education. In this domain, she has collaborated with international partners on the development, implementation, and impact evaluation of initiatives aimed at enhancing skills and well-being among students and healthcare professionals. She was among the promoters and organizers of the International Forum on Art and Health, held in Rome last November. She is the author of numerous international scientific publications and is frequently cited in journals related to education, medical, and nursing education for her contributions to research in this field.