Stories that connect art and discovery

Anne Titelbaum is a biological anthropologist specializing in human skeletal anatomy, paleopathology, and bioarchaeology. Her primary area of investigation is Andean South America, with a focus on prehistoric populations from coastal and highland Peru. Her research interests include ancient disease, developmental conditions, traumatic injury, and musculoskeletal stress. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, where she teaches Clinical Anatomy to medical and allied health students. Titelbaum has served as Treasurer and Board Member of the Paleopathology Association and is currently an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Paleopathology.

Dr. Aviva Weinberg is a urologic surgeon and classically trained visual artist whose work explores the intersection of medicine, identity, and narrative. At Kaiser Permanente, she leads initiatives in men and women’s urologic health, physician communication, and process improvement. Her portrait series (included in this exhibit) Faces–Unmasked emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when masks and isolation fractured our most basic human connection: the ability to see each other’s faces. She painted 100 portraits as acts of restoration—each one an attempt to unveil the emotion, identity, and inner life obscured by fabric and fear.

Barret Michalec is a sociologist whose work focuses on healthcare delivery and health professions education. His research challenges conventional training systems and advocates for evidence based practices that cultivate humility, empathy, and well being among healthcare professionals and students. His work has been internationally recognized for its critical and reform oriented approach.

Beth Eckel is a Phoenix-based artist whose work explores the human experience through anatomical precision and emotional depth. Trained in classical realism at the Barcelona Academy of Art, she combines traditional drawing techniques with contemporary approaches to create narrative-driven visual work.

Bill Dambrova is a native Arizonan and ASU graduate with a BA in Studio Art. Bill has shown artwork in local as well as national galleries and museums, and has created site specific art installations at locations including: Valley Metro Rail, Burning Man, East Jesus, and Meow Wolf. His work can be found in the public collections of institutions such as The Tucson Museum of Art, Sky Harbor Airport Museum, The City of Scottsdale, The State of New Mexico: Art in Public Places Program, DuPont, Kroger, Kemin Industries, and The Phoenix Suns Legacy Partners.

Dr. Krzyzanowski, Assistant Professor at Barrow Neurological Institute, uses Geographic Information Science to study how environmental toxins influence Parkinson disease. By integrating patient data with pollution and chemical exposure maps, her research reveals national and regional patterns that inform targeted cleanup efforts and strategies to reduce disease risk.