Although art therapy has traditionally focused on the use of art expression in psychotherapy, the practice of medical art therapy has begun to grow rapidly. This paper provides a brief overview of the emerging specialty of medical art therapy and its importance as a counseling tool with people suffering from serious health problems. The paper examines the theory, practice, application, current research, and directions for this field's future, along with an emphasis on the contributions of medical art therapy as part of the health care of patients with serious and life-threatening physical illness. Healing according to the paper, extends beyond blood chemistry or the eradication of tumors; healing involves becoming whole both physically and psychologically. The greatest impact of medical art therapy could be in art's ability to synthesize and integrate client issues such as pain, loss, and death. The medical art therapist or clinician help patients achieve this synthesis through art making and the creative process. The use of art expression in conjunction with a total medical treatment program may be one of the most viable avenues through which patients can find true healing in their lives. (Contains 39 references.) (RJM)