Roseville doctor honored for artwork

Physician substitutes stethoscope for paint brush

Roseville, Calif.- A local Roseville physician, (Margaret Planta, M.D.), substituted her stethoscope for a paint brush and submitted the winning painting at a national art competition for cancer survivors, friends, relatives and health care professionals.

Margaret Planta, M.D., a Sutter Medical Group family practice physician, won $1,000 for her acrylic painting titled ‘The Unveiling’ at the Lilly Oncology on Canvas art competition. Dr. Planta donated the prize money to the Children’s Art Therapy Program at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

The Children’s Art Therapy Program is a support group offered to children ages 5-18 who have a significant caregiver or sibling with a chronic illness from that he or she may not recover. The program, directed by two experienced therapists, utilizes art as a medium to provide young people a way to express fears, frustrations, hopes and dreams, which Dr. Planta says is very beneficial to healing.

‘As a family doctor, I see the effect that a cancer diagnosis has, not only on the patient, but on the whole family,’ said Dr. Planta. ‘Everyone is so – appropriately – focused on treating the patient that the children can often become the forgotten victims. I think that the children’s art therapy group is a great outlet and coping mechanism for them.’

Dr. Plana’s artwork, along with many of the other winning entries, will tour across the country during the next two years and will be featured at various hospitals, cancer centers and patient advocacy events for public viewing.

For more information about the Children Art Therapy Program, contact 916-781-1541