Bran The Man (2022)
This is a portrait of my friend and fellow medical school classmate, Brandon. His smile reflects the joy that comes with finding one’s purpose and understanding that one can benefit others through medical learning.
Off the Shelf
Off the Shelf is our section for creative works by medical students.
Contributing Writer
Albany Medical College
Melissa is a third year medical student at Albany Medical College in Albany, NY class of 2023. In 2019, she graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in visual arts. She enjoys drawing, painting, cooking, playing tennis, hiking with her husband, and crocheting hats for her 4 (soon to be 6) nephews in her free time. After graduating medical school, Melissa would like to pursue a career in ophthalmology.
Achoo! (2022)
The goal of this image is to make light of the traditional idea of art as something deep and profound. Art can be funny too, and this cartoon-ish piece makes art out of the mundane and somewhat gross experience of blowing one’s nose.
Caput Medusae (2022)
This is a portrait of my friend and medical school classmate stylized as ‘caput medusae,’ or ‘head of Medusa.’ However, instead of snakes coming out of her head there are just gummy worms.
Bird’s Beak (2022)
This painting, utilizing oil and acrylic paints, was made in the midst of studying for my ongoing classes and boards. There have been a couple diseases that have stuck with me throughout my studies. One of them is type 1 achalasia from the GI block I did recently.
2020, Colorized (2022)
March 13, 2020. A date engraved in many of our minds. The day the President declared a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease Outbreak.
The Mind’s Face (2022)
What if I could see the emotions that flood my patient’s mind? What if I could know how much space anger, frustration, joy, sorrow, hope took up in their mind’s real estate?
As a Phoenix
Dead eschars are excised. / Skin grafts grow like flowers / Repotted for new life.
Grandpapa’s Gift
Grandpapa had a gift for storytelling. / Sitting on the two-legged stools at the end of the Hutong,
Gynecologic Oncology Surgeons: Normal-Sized Giants
Bleary-eyed, / Surgical cap awry, / I follow in a single file line.
His Last, First Breath
As I unzip the synthetic shroud, / he breathes his last, first breath: / one final exhalation from the plastic pleura / before we make acquaintance.
Intubate
Medical student, why don’t you intubate? / The OR is safe, it’ll go great.
Shortcomings of a Sanctuary
In the hospital lobby, three police officers / surrounded a woman in an oversized, white T-shirt, / sitting in a corner chair that nearly swallowed her whole, / enveloping her in its dull, floral pattern.
Contributing Writer
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Tulsi Patel is a second year medical student in the MD/MPH program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She graduated from Columbia University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in neuroscience and behavior. She loves listening to podcasts, visiting art museums, reading poetry, hiking, and running outdoors. Tulsi is excited to explore pediatrics and internal medicine while centering health equity by applying her public health degree, narrative medicine, and humanism in medicine.