Both the end of the Cold War and the Croatian War of Independence have presented complex public health needs. Intergenerational trauma has been met by a system that has struggled to mobilize efficiently to address these challenges. In the fall of 2012, Dr. Lukasz Konopka and several psychiatrists and academics from Croatia visited Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wis., in the hopes of bringing art therapy to the country. Mount Mary was the first university in the U.S. to offer a clinical-focused Ph.D. in art therapy. In the summer of 2014, Chris Belkofer, Ph.D., chair of Mount Mary’s art therapy department, visited Dubrovnik, Croatia as a speaker and attendee for ARS MEDICA, a conference on the role of art in medicine. In April 2016, faculty members from the University of Zagreb’s medical school will participate in Mount Mary University’s Spring Art Therapy Symposium.

1. Art Therapy in Croatia
The Beginnings of a Strategic Plan

2. Background and History
 In the Fall of 2012 Dr Lukasz Konopka and several
psychiatrists and academics from Croatia visited Mount
Mary to explore collaborating with our university in the
hopes of bringing art therapy to the country .

3. Who
Lukasz Konopka- taught at The Chicago
School from 1994-2012 and is currently
the Chief
Neuroscientist at Yellowbrick
Consultation and Treatment Center. He is
an internationally known
clinical neuroscientist and a member of
and mentor for the renowned Collegium
Internationale Neuro-
Psychopharmacologicum, an
organization promoting research in
psychiatric disorders.
Chris Belkofer-
is an Assistant Professor of Art
Therapy and Chair, Art Therapy
Program at Mount Mary
University. His research has
focused on applying neuroscience
frameworks to art therapy
research and practice..

4. Lovorka Brajkovic-
Licensed clinical
psychologist, Department
of Psychiatry, University
Hospital Centre Zagreb;
Chief, Department of
Communication Skills,
Center for Palliative
Medicine, Medical Ethics
and Communication
Skills, School of Medicine,
University of Zagreb,
Croatia.
Marijana Bras-
Associate Professor of
Psychiatry and Psychological
medicine, Department of
Psychological Medicine,
University Hospital Centre
Zagreb; Deputy Head
of the Centre for Palliative
medicine, medical Ethics
and Communication skills,
school of medicine
University of Zagreb,
Croatia
Veljko Dordevic-
Professor of Psychiatry
and Psychological
medicine, Department
of Psychological
medicine, University
Hospital Centre Zagreb;
Head of the Centre for
Palliative medicine,
medical Ethics and
Communication skills,
school of medicine,
University of Zagreb,
Croatia

5. “We would also like to offer a possibility of
collaboration to both national and international
partners, in order to further contribute to the
development of patient-centered medicine in Croatia”-
•V. or evi ; M., Braš; V., Milunovi , L., Brajkovi ;Đ đ ć ć ć
R., Stevanovi ; & O., Polašekć (2011). The founding
of the Centre for Palliative Medicine, Medical Ethics
and Communication Skills: a new step toward the
development of patient-oriented medicine in Croatia.
Croatian Medical Journal 52(1), 87-88.

6. Background
 Both the end of the Cold War and the Croatian War of
Independence have presented complex public health
needs. Inter-generational trauma has been met by a
system that has struggled to mobilize efficiently to
address these challenges

7. Complex History
 Croatia has a complex history
 The conflicts of the Croatian War of Independence was
marked by ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and civilian
casualties.

9. Stratum or city center of old town Dubrovnik was shelled but is
now a thriving tourist attraction

12. Summer of 2014
Dr Chris Belkofer
visited Dubrovnik,
Croatia as a speaker
and attendee for ARS
MEDICA

14. “What is ARS MEDICA?
Is medicine a science or it is both a science and art; or is it also an art, what is artistic
about medicine? ARS MEDICA is at the same time the art in medicine, and
medicine of art, but also a journey from the culture of disease to the culture of health,
from symptoms and diagnosis to the person as a whole. In the course ARS
MEDICA-science, clinical practice and art we will discuss how to make a bridge
between science, clinical practice and art in four important public health
problems: depression, dementia, pain and palliative care. Join us and be important
part of May course in beautiful Dubrovnik!”

16. What?
 Questions explored by Croatian colleagues:
 How can the arts be used to promote a more empathic
bedside presence in the education of medical students?
 How can neuroscience and art therapy interconnect to
promote healing?
 What techniques/theories, knowledge, etc. can be shared
between institutions and colleagues
 How can mental health break free of institutional silos to
treat the whole person?

17. These challenges provide an opportunity for
collaboration. The health system in the U.S. is
in a great flux. Mental health has struggled to
make good on the promise of neuroscience.
Despite increasing technology and research
approaches to mental health and mental illness
are often ineffective, splintered, and suffer from
outdated models.

18. Goals From Conference
 To develop and expand upon previous conferences. More numbers
and more art therapists
 To teach art therapy in Croatia
 To create interdisciplinary training on how to use neuroscience in
conjunction with the therapeutic arts.
 To establish an affiliation agreement between Mount Mary
University and the University of Zagreb
 To bring the PAIN BOL exhibit to Mount Mary University
 To invite Croatian Colleagues to speak in conjunction with the
exhibit

19. The University of Zagreb is the largest Croatian university and the
oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central
Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe. As of 2011,
University of Zagreb is ranked among the 500 Best Universities of
the world by the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.

20. Pain BOL exhibit:
Collaboration between
artists at the University of
Zagreb and the Center for
Palliative Medicine,
University of Zagreb
Consisted of visual
responses to first person
accounts of persons
suffering from chronic pain
“The night is passing
slowly and my shoulder
has gone made after the
exercises with you……..”

21. How?
 ????