My White Coat
My White Coat / Stuffed heavy with gadgets, notes, and articles to read / It’s an indicator to the layman of my lifelong obsession / To understanding the human condition
Off the Shelf
Off the Shelf is our section for creative works by medical students.
Medical Student Editor and in-Training Staff Member Emeritus
University of Florida Fixel Movement and Neurorestoration Institute
Nita Chen is a current movement disorders fellow at University of Florida Movement and Neurorestoration program. She is Class of 2017 medical student at Albany Medical College. To become cultural, she spent her early educational years in Taiwan and thoroughly enjoyed wonderful Taiwanese food and milk tea, thus ruining her appetite for the rest of her life in the United States. Aside from her neuroscience and cognitive science majors during her undergraduate career, she holed herself up in her room writing silly fictional stories, doodling, and playing the piano. Or she could be found spazzing out like a gigantic science nerd in various laboratories. Now she just holes up in her room to study most of the time.
The Imposters
Speak with authority / Let the words / Last vestiges of dead languages / Rife with history / Flow smooth as butter from your tongue
Depression
I don’t look both ways when I cross the street / Sometimes I forget I’m alive / I take a step onto the road
Anatomy as Art: Installation #13
At Albany Medical College, upon our orientation to gross anatomy, we are asked to draw our feelings on blank index cards prior to entering the cadaver laboratory. As we progress through the year, our sentiments regarding anatomy may remain the same, or may change, and these drawings allow us to look back at this milestone we crossed as budding medical students.
Sunset
a nightingale knows best. / her call comes forth / as the daylight dwindles, / and, listen… i hear her now.
Anatomy as Art: Installation #12
At Albany Medical College, upon our orientation to gross anatomy, we are asked to draw our feelings on blank index cards prior to entering the cadaver laboratory. As we progress through the year, our sentiments regarding anatomy may remain the same, or may change, and these drawings allow us to look back at this milestone we crossed as budding medical students.
That Is Love
In class they ask me / What is love? / To prompt a philosophical discussion.
Listening With Open Ears (2015)
Entering medical school, we are like little seeds thirsty for knowledge. The abundance of daily information affords us new experiences and the ability to grow like a flower. With time, our petals open to reveal a shiny yellow nectar-rich core indicating our progressive growth — both mind and soul.
A Long Journey (2015)
Life is a long and arduous journey filled with obstacles and many curved paths. Despite this daunting reality, we must approach these challenges with an open and positive mind. Every fall that we experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. Every detour will serve to expose us to novel approaches of thinking. Every interaction is a chance to learn and grow. Although the path may not be smooth, it will prepare us for the daily challenges that we shall face when we reach our ultimate destination — becoming a great physician.
Dying from a Butterfly
There is a white ball of yarn that rests on the chair beside me. I drag the free end, extend the thread and wrap it around the knitting needle to begin my stitch. I think I’ll try to make a scarf until my husband tries to speak again.
Anatomy as Art: Installation #11
At Albany Medical College, upon our orientation to gross anatomy, we are asked to draw our feelings on blank index cards prior to entering the cadaver laboratory. As we progress through the year, our sentiments regarding anatomy may remain the same, or may change, and these drawings allow us to look back at this milestone we crossed as budding medical students.
The Electronic Art of Medicine (2016)
I tilted the overhead lamp and reached for a fresh blade. My gown was stained from hours of work on the woman’s arm; I continued to scrape, dab and blot. This, however, was not surgery. I was finishing my final project for a college figure painting class.
Graphic Designer
University of Washington School of Medicine
MS4 roaming the wilds of Seattle, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho. Caffeinated beverage of choice: Pikes Place + espresso shot. Favorite word: gestalt. Least favorite word: gerrymander. Keeps sane by hiking, playing volleyball and ultimate frisbee, freelancing art commissions, and culinary experimenting. Catch my illustrated blog at mdcomix.blogspot.com or tweet @md_comics
