This past October, I was part of a team of cartoonists who joined the volunteer force at the 2017 Seattle/King County Clinic to share the stories of the patients who seek the free medical, dental, and vision care at this giant pop-up clinic. We talked to patients as they waited–endlessly waited–for care to learn what drives them to the Clinic and what challenges they face in accessing healthcare every day. This was the first Seattle/King County Clinic held since the momentous 2016 election, so we also wanted to know how these patients feel about the future of healthcare in the current political environment. The comics also highlighted the efforts of the thousands of volunteers who make the Clinic possible.
You can find out more about how the role of this Clinic by reading Eroyn Franklin’s comic strip for the national comics publication The Nib. And this month, the National Library of Medicine includes the comic book and original artwork from our first volume of stories from the Seattle/King County Clinic in a new exhibition, “Graphic Medicine: Ill-conceived and well drawn!” curated by Seattle cartoonist Ellen Forney. Look for a travel version of the this exhibit to come to Seattle later this year!
And now for the comics:
Thank you to Public Health – Seattle & King County, Seattle Center, and the Seattle Center Foundation for supporting this comics journalism project. And thank you to all the people who shared their stories and the amazing artists who volunteered their talent and many hours!
Originally posted on January 18, 2018.