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Susan Shifrin: Changing Lives Through Art and Compassion

Susan Shifrin, Founder and Executive Director of ARTZ Philadelphia, is enhancing the quality of life for those affected by dementia through art.

Susan Shifrin, Founder and Executive Director of ARTZ Philadelphia, has dedicated her life to enhancing the quality of life for those affected by dementia through the transformative power of art.


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Our 2024 Women of Influence Award Winners were nominated by peers and selected by the Family Focus Media team based on their achievements and dedication to creating positive change, as revealed through comprehensive questionnaires. Their profiles showcase their inspiring journeys and accomplishments.

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A Personal Journey Becomes a Mission

For Susan, the path to founding ARTZ Philadelphia was deeply personal. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2001 exposed Susan to the devastating impact of dementia-related stigmas. This experience, coupled with a chance encounter with a social worker named Debby D. in 2010, sparked the idea for what would become ARTZ Philadelphia.

“Art was their vehicle for expression, interaction, creativity, and mutual respect. And for laughter – plenty of laughter,” Susan recalls of the early programs she developed for people living with dementia.

ARTZ Philadelphia: A Vision Realized

Founded in 2013, ARTZ Philadelphia embodies Susan’s commitment to honoring the uniqueness, preserving the dignity, and restoring the agency of people living with dementia and their care partners. The organization’s programs use art as a medium for connection, expression, and joy.

Pioneering Community-Centered Care

One of Susan’s proudest achievements is the “ARTZ in the Neighborhood” project, launched in 2018. This initiative responds to the diverse ways different communities live with dementia, generating programs that are by and for the people of those communities.

“We weathered the pandemic together (both online and on front porches) and co-created a neighborhood mural in Hunting Park that not only captures the history of the neighborhood through the eyes of its residents, young and old, but celebrates our community advisors’ role in that history,” Susan shares.

Overcoming Challenges with Determination

Leaving her museum position in her 50s to start ARTZ Philadelphia was a risky chance that put significant strain on Susan’s personal finances. “We nearly lost our home twice before I was able to start drawing a salary,” she reveals. However, her unwavering belief in the mission and the support of her family and community saw her through these difficult times.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Susan has thoroughly enjoyed mentoring others, particularly young women, throughout her career. From editing scholarly volumes to overseeing interns and volunteers at ARTZ Philadelphia, she has consistently invested in developing future leaders.

Her innovative “ARTZ @ Jefferson” program takes this commitment further by creating a unique mentorship model where people living with dementia and their care partners mentor future healthcare providers. “The goal of this program is to develop a healthcare workforce that is innately empathetic, respectful, humble, and committed to learning from their patients living with chronic illnesses such as dementia-related conditions,” Susan explains.

A Lasting Impact

Susan’s niece, Kimberly Snider, describes her as “an inspiration to everyone she meets.” She highlights Susan’s “infinite patience” and her ability to guide “countless individuals to view the world around them in a positive light.”

Susan actively encourages women from all walks of life to seek fulfillment and better opportunities, often coordinating with woman-owned businesses to expand outreach programs and improve lives in her community. Through ARTZ Philadelphia, Susan Shifrin continues to change the lives of those affected by dementia, while inspiring a new generation of empathetic caregivers and healthcare professionals. 

Philadelphia Family Contributing Writer. Learn more about Jen at https://www.jenwarnerwrites.com/

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