CONTEXT

How a simple idea took shape as a shared experience of reflection, connection, and care.

WHAT HEALS ME was inspired by the participatory art piece WHAT MADE ME, and reimagined for a school health setting.

Emily Rubin is a district float nurse working across schools, navigating clinical care, student needs, and the constant unpredictability of a school health office. Her perspective is grounded in how people actually move through these spaces, and the many ways support shows up throughout the day, both big and small.

With a background in consulting, she brings expertise in systems thinking, engagement, and designing experiences that make support more accessible and intuitive in real-world settings.

Supported by an Idea Lab grant from the Brookline Education Foundation, the project brings a community-based art concept into a space centered on wellbeing and care.

Developed in collaboration with clinical colleagues across the district, the installation was designed to feel intuitive, accessible, and meaningful within the flow of the school day.

Grounded in the belief that healthcare should extend beyond sick care, the project creates space for reflection, connection, and everyday support through simple, hands-on interaction. Over time, it surfaces patterns in what helps people feel better, offering insight into how schools can think more intentionally about wellbeing.

Special thanks to Marianne Dewing, whose partnership and presence at Driscoll have been integral to bringing the installation into the school community.