A Thank You to Ebru Ustundag and Matthew Noe

Ebru Ustundag

Serving as Co-Chair for the past three years, Ebru has been a vital guiding force, steering the organization with grace and vision through a pivotal era of expansion and evolution.

Ebru brought her invaluable perspective as a critical feminist geographer to the heart of GMIC. Her deep commitment to the intersections of health, care, and social justice profoundly influenced how our organization operates and grows. She didn’t just lead; she actively built solidarities and alliances. By bridging the worlds of academia, healthcare, and comics art, Ebru championed a vision of graphic medicine rooted in relationships and radical collective care.

Her tenure as Co-Chair was defined by this community-driven ethos. She challenged us to think critically about the discourses of healthcare and ensured that GMIC remained a welcoming, forward-thinking space for all its members by focusing not only on our initiatives, but also on the relationships that the work nurtured. The equitable practices she fostered and the vibrant, interdisciplinary connections she cultivated will remain woven into the fabric of the Graphic Medicine community long after her term ends.

We will deeply miss her collaborative energy, her fierce advocacy, and her warmth at the board table. Thank you, Ebru, for your tireless dedication, for challenging us to view graphic medicine through a lens of social justice, and for your unwavering commitment to this collective.

Matthew Noe

As a founding member of the GMIC board, Matthew has served as a pillar of the Graphic Medicine community, a staunch advocate for the creators who give it life, and a compassionate educator who seeks to bring greater awareness to the field and its inherent value.

While Matthew served as the GMIC Treasurer for many years, his contributions to the board knew no bounds. His efforts and time were consistently and generously applied whenever and wherever they were needed, whether in representing GMIC at conventions including TCAF and MICE, serving as a judge for GMIC’s annual awards, acting as the moderator for GMIC’s social media channels, hosting virtual and in-person panels, or creating promotional materials to increase awareness for the Graphic Medicine community.

While Matthew will be completing his time on the GMIC board, his efforts with the Graphic Medicine community will only continue. Matthew truly is a leading voice in our community, and we eagerly await the exciting journey that lies ahead of him. We are grateful for our time working alongside Matthew on the GMIC board and value his role in our larger community.

Thank you, Matthew, for your generosity in sharing your time and talents with GMIC and the Graphic Medicine community. Your passion for the field of Graphic Medicine is wonderfully palpable and will only continue to inspire, educate, and effect positive change. We are beyond grateful for all that you do!