A Duquesne professor is working to help people better understand how their bodies work and how to communicate more effectively with doctors. Dr. John Pollock takes the innovative approach of creating animated films that inspire viewers of all ages to take ownership of their health and quality of life.
To support Pollock's pioneering work,
Duquesne University has received a $1.3 million Science Education Partnership grant from a division of the
National Institutes of Health.
Given the significance of the health-care industry in Pittsburgh, Pollock is able to partner with area hospitals and research centers and target films to particular health care sectors.
The first film, on bone healing, will involve
UPMC Montefiore Hospital and feature animated character Dr. Emily Allevable who will guide viewers through a variety of health-related topics. Films will premier at the
Carnegie Science Center and be shown nationwide at other science centers. Their visual storytelling format is easier to comprehend than technical materials provided by doctors and pharmacists.
“This has a measurable, multi-billion dollar impact on the health care industry. We are the only place in the country putting in this level of detail and research,” says Pollock, who feels that the more informed patients are, the less industry will spend on health care.
“A hallmark of the films is our level of scientific detail, as if you were using a very sophisticated microscope,” says Pollock, who describes his films as “great journeys inside the body.”
The project will not only create jobs but also recognition for the city. “People will see that this is a Pittsburgh generated activity,” says Pollock.
Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Dr. Pollock, professor of biology, and Karen Ferrick-Roman, media relations, Duquesne University
Image courtesy of Duquesne University