Beyond the Test
Faces of Newborn Screening
A groundbreaking national awareness initiative using the transformative power of art to highlight the life-changing importance of newborn screening. Through extraordinary portraits of children living with serious medical conditions, the exhibit brings a human face to early detection, sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring greater awareness. By bringing these powerful stories into state capitols and public spaces across the country, we are creating an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression.
A Powerful Beginning
During Newborn Screening Awareness Month in September 2026, Beyond the Diagnosis launched an ambitious four-state awareness initiative, bringing the transformative power of art to the forefront of an important public health conversation. With an exhibition at the Rhode Island State House and additional displays in Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin the initiative introduced audiences across the country to the faces and stories behind newborn screening.
The overwhelmingly positive response came as no surprise. Recent advances in neuroscience have deepened our understanding of how profoundly art affects us. Brain imaging research has shown that engaging with art activates regions of the limbic system and cerebral cortex. In other words, art activates both emotion and intellect. This powerful connection helps explain why our portraits resonate so deeply, transforming complex medical issues into personal, meaningful experiences that inspire empathy, encourage understanding, and leave a lasting impression on all who experience them.
Building on this remarkable beginning, Beyond the Diagnosis is expanding its vision to create a nationwide awareness campaign unlike any other. By bringing these extraordinary works of art into state capitols, medical institutions, and public spaces across America, we hope to elevate the importance of newborn screening, strengthen public awareness, and inspire a national conversation about the life-changing possibilities of early detection.
Building on the success of our inaugural four-state initiative, Beyond the Diagnosis is working to bring the powerful faces and stories of newborn screening to communities across America. Our vision is to create an unprecedented national awareness campaign that brings together art, advocacy, and public health to highlight the life-changing importance of early detection.
By transforming state capitols, medical institutions, and public spaces into galleries of awareness, we aim to reach audiences far beyond the traditional medical community. Each exhibition creates an opportunity to educate the public, engage policymakers, strengthen partnerships, and inspire meaningful conversations about the critical role newborn screening plays in the lives of children and families.
Through collaboration with advocacy organizations, healthcare professionals, government leaders, and industry partners, we envision a lasting national movement that inspires greater understanding, encourages progress, and brings the importance of newborn screening into the public spotlight. Our goal is to create an impact that extends far beyond the exhibitions themselves, leaving communities informed, inspired, and empowered to advocate for healthier futures.
Early Detection. Earlier Care. Healthier Futures.