Art Space volunteer uses drawings to make an impact and build connections
October 02, 2026
- Leslie Cromeans began volunteering at UT MD Anderson’s Art Space in November 2023.
- At the suggestion of the Art Space manager, Cromeans began doing drawings on canvases that visitors could color in.
- The drawings have become a hit among patients and caregivers, and she often accepts requests for drawings.
- She believes her experience volunteering at UT MD Anderson will help her as she pursues a career in medical dosimetry.
Art has long been recognized as having healing power. That’s one of the reasons Leslie Cromeans chose to volunteer at UT MD Anderson’s Art Space for Patients and Caregivers.
Cromeans was one of the first regular volunteers in the Art Space. We spoke with her to learn more about her volunteerism, how she connects with patients and why cancer is near and dear to her heart.
How long have you been a volunteer at UT MD Anderson?
I started volunteering here in October 2023, spending my sessions talking with patients. The Art Space opened that same month, and I was excited when I saw an email looking for volunteers. I replied right away, and the team got me signed up quickly. I joined the Art Space as a volunteer that November.
Why did you want to start volunteering at UT MD Anderson?
I had spent most of 2023 in New Mexico helping my mom, who’d just been diagnosed with cancer. I remember how thoughtful and caring those hospital volunteers were, so when I came back to Houston, I wanted to help people in that same way.
UT MD Anderson is well-known for its cancer care. I felt like volunteering here would give me the best chance of helping more people, so I applied.
What interested you about the Art Space specifically?
Honestly, it just sounded really cool.
Do you have an artistic background?
My mom is very artsy and into crafts. I grew up with a craft room in our house. I don’t have a professional art background by any means, but I know how to use a hot glue gun!
What does a typical day look like for you in the Art Space?
Every shift is different. Most of the time, I’m making sure supplies are organized and easy to access for patients.
For a while, we were creating a lot of Shrinky Dinks, which are plastic sheets that shrink and thicken when heated in the oven. They can be used to make items like keychains and pendants for necklaces. I would often help visitors heat their Shrinky Dinks in the oven.
One day, a patient came in who wanted to create something but needed some artistic direction. That’s when our Art Space manager, Kasey Marsh, suggested that I draw something on a canvas for the patient to color in. Since then, canvas designs have become really popular in the Art Space.
How do you get ideas for your drawings?
I typically pull the concepts from Instagram or Pinterest. I go for things that are a little more whimsical with simple lines to draw and color in – like a little frog with a witch hat and a wand, for example.
Sometimes people have requests, and I do my best to draw them. I’ve attempted to draw Pikachu so many times, but I haven’t mastered that one yet! I try to look for things that are cute and easy to draw, and patients love them.
How do you connect with patients and caregivers?
People who’ve visited the Art Space before usually know what they want to work on. But the Art Space can be a little overwhelming for new visitors who may be unsure of where to start. So, I’ll walk up to them, introduce myself and welcome them to the Art Space. Then I’ll show them all of the art supplies and projects we have, including our to-go kits if they need to leave to get to an appointment.
Sometimes, a patient or caregiver will come in, and I can tell immediately something is bothering them. I’ll usually say, “Let’s get you set up with some paint, markers and a canvas.” The Art Space provides them a safe space to work out their feelings or frustrations on an art project.
There are other times when patients come in and just want somebody to talk to. That’s why I usually work at one of the tables where patients sit. That way, if they want to chat, we can chat. That’s really the best way to connect with them. Not every patient needs that, but for the ones who do, I am here for them.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering in the Art Space?
It’s amazing when patients recognize that art has more purpose than just drawing something ‘perfectly.’ They can really get relief from creating art, even if they don’t consider themselves artsy. I love seeing people realize that art is helpful for them.
I understand you’re enrolled in the Medical Dosimetry program through UT MD Anderson’s School of Health Professions. What interested you in that program?
Medical dosimetrists use computer software to help create customized treatment plans for cancer patients and determine where exactly the radiation should go, while protecting as much healthy tissue as possible.
My mom had radiation therapy as part of her cancer treatment. Seeing how much that improved her quality of life motivated me to pursue a career where I could do something like that to help others.
At the time, I was working at UT MD Anderson in the specimen processing lab. And a coworker who was already in the Medical Dosimetry program told me about it and said it would be right up my alley. She encouraged me to apply. It’s a very competitive program, and I’m so thankful I was accepted. I started in August 2025.
Is there anything you can glean from volunteering that might help you in your career?
Medical dosimetrists look at scans and then contour, or outline, organs such as the heart or liver. This helps the radiation oncology team calculate and plan the safest and most effective radiation dosage. That is one aspect where my experience with drawing would be helpful.
But I think what will be even more impactful is my genuine care for others. I won’t look at a scan as being just another scan. For me, each scan represents someone’s loved one – a mother, a grandmother, a son. I’ll think back to how I felt when my mom was receiving radiation. I’ll also think about the many patients I’ve talked to in the Art Space who shared what they were feeling before a radiation appointment or those who were considering that kind of treatment. I can draw from those experiences even when I’m behind a screen.
What else would you like to share?
I’m married with two fur babies – a cat and a dog. My mom moved to Houston two years ago, and I love having her close by.
Volunteering at the Art Space has brought me a lot of joy. Drawing on those canvases and seeing the impact it’s had on people has helped me stay motivated as I continue my journey at UT MD Anderson.