This painting captures the delicate balance between life and death in medicine, a theme deeply rooted in Sir William Osler’s philosophy, which emphasizes lifelong learning and humanity in patient care. The gloved hand, representing a healthcare professional, holds a bouquet of lilies, symbolizing the life, purity, and innocence that medical professionals strive to protect. In... Continue Reading →
This piece explores the idea of “taking off the mask” in a patient care setting. I took inspiration for the mask from the famous musical, The Phantom of the Opera, as the lead, Erik, wears a mask to hide his disfigured face underneath out of fear of vulnerability. Thus, the mask I painted is meant... Continue Reading →
Communication is considered to be one of the cornerstones of practicing medicine and, naturally, it is a vital part of nearly any medical school curriculum. However, oftentimes, when students are taught how to properly interview and communicate with patients, it is under a very subtle yet important assumption: the physician and patient speak a common... Continue Reading →
More than a 1000 pages 5000 cards; 7 books. Memorized all the stages, Still one experience is all it took. I had walked in prepared, My finest scrubs tucked in neat. I walked in but was scared, My heart skipped a beat. The first patient walked in - a burka all black. The first patient... Continue Reading →
I awoke to the smell of coffee and eggs sizzling in the frying pan. The morning was calm as we gathered around the table, anticipating Grandma's cooking. Before joining my family, I helped my grandmother with her insulin injections, a practice I learned at the age of six after watching my grandfather do it for... Continue Reading →
Walking the windswept beaches of Galveston, hand-in-hand with my loved one, splashing water on his calves, the roiling waves bringing us white foam and broken shells. When cherishing these moments, I feel grounded and reconnected with my love for medicine. I remember that I chose this path to help others through their most vulnerable times... Continue Reading →
At 24, entrenched in the demanding realities of medical school, I had always expected to learn about diseases like cancer from textbooks and lectures, not through my own lived experience. The diagnosis came as a very shocking and unexpected detour that transformed my understanding of illness from an academic exercise into an intimate reality. As... Continue Reading →
The establishment of integrated graduate health professions institutions in the Southern Hemisphere during the early 1970s highlighted the urgent need for clear labeling systems to address the challenges of medication delivery across vast distances. This necessity led to the creation of the syringe labeling system, a tool anesthesiologists still rely on in operating rooms today.... Continue Reading →
When A—’s sister picked up the phone to say that she was dead I was surprised She was supposed to say that she would call us back later to reschedule the appointment. After all, I wasn’t treating her heart failure; Why should it involve me? I’m not sad, just surprised. And when B— told us... Continue Reading →
The concept of the Tree of Life originates in Jewish Kabbalah, a mystical tradition that seeks to explain the nature of God, the universe, and humanity’s relationship to both. Kabbalah delves into the spiritual underpinnings of existence, offering insights into divine creation and the flow of spiritual energy. The Tree of Life is central to... Continue Reading →
Medical Humanities & Arts Anthology 