BOA R D profile
BONNIE PITMAN
A member of the Baylor Health Care System
Foundation board since 2013, Bonnie Pitman is
a nationally recognized leader in the museum and
arts community, an educator, curator and author.
Passionate about the role of art in healing, Bonnie
is able to combine the two distinct fields of study
in a new course she’s leading as the distinguished
scholar in residence at The University of Texas at
Dallas – “The Art of Observation.” Through this
course, Bonnie teaches 25 undergraduate medical
students how to observe, analyze and interpret
works of art. She teaches her students how to apply
the practice of visual literacy to diagnostic skills
and problem solving that will be required when
they are working with patients in a medical
setting.
“Everyone has their own set of experiences and
perspectives that influence conclusions that are
drawn about everything ranging from art to a
medic a l dia gnosis,” expla ined Bonnie.
“Perspectives are all so unique – not everyone sees
the same red in a painting – some will describe it
as cherry, while others, brick. This difference in
perspective plays out in an even more important
way when you’re talking about medicine and the
patient experience and highlights the importance
of close observation and collaborative discussion
that this course teaches.”
Prior to joining UTD, Bonnie was The Eugene
McDermott Director for the Dallas Museum of Art.
She has served on numerous art-related boards
including the American Association of Museums
(AAM) and as chair of the AAM Accreditation
Commission for 12 years. In addition, she has consulted with more than 200 organizations and museums, including the Pew Charitable Trust, the
National Endowment for the Arts and Lincoln
Center for the Performing Arts. Bonnie received her
bachelor’s degree cum laude from Sweet Briar College
and her master’s degree from Tulane University.
24
22
22
BONNIE PITMAN
What brought you to Baylor?
I am a patient of Randall Rosenblatt, M.D.,
chief of pulmonary and critical care at Baylor
University Medical Center at Dallas, and was
introduced to Baylor Health Care System when he
“Over the years at Baylor, I have
met many physicians, nurses and
technicians who all share a deep
commitment to caring for their
patients. The focus on patient
care is extraordinary at Baylor;
it’s one of the great hallmarks of
the organization.”