Volume 24

May - 2021

Cover: Seneca Rocks

I am a member of the Rural Health Initiative Program at my medical school which was created to foster interest in practicing medicine in rural and undeserved communities. For my third year rotations, as a part of the RHI program, I had the pleasure of completing my education in a small rural town in West Virginia. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever lived in, and I felt like I hit the jackpot when it came to exploring nature. I had access to endless hiking trails, parks, and rivers. On breaks and weekends, I would spend a lot of time outside, and would hike Seneca Rocks often as it was only 30 minutes away from my base site. When I start feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, I turn to art or nature and channel those emotions into creating something. I painted this acrylic piece after hiking to the top of Seneca Rocks during a study break before a shelf exam. Appalachia will always have a special place in my heart, and I’m thankful for the RHI program because it has given me the opportunity to learn more about the people here. I’ve had extensive industry training and visited the workplace of many of my patients to get firsthand knowledge of their daily experience. I have toured lumber yards, chicken and cow farms, and had training in chainsaw safety. This has helped me better understand barriers to care and common occupational injuries in rural communities.

Letter from the Editors:

Can you believe that it has already been two years of continuous volumes filled with amazing artwork, spoken word, music, photography, poems, short stories, and so much more? We have been blow away by the outpouring of support and well wishes from our followers from the first volume to all the new people we meet each month!

You may have noticed that there wasn’t a volume last month, this is because we are focusing on some exciting opportunities and building out our online presence and community. We’re so excited to keep releasing monthly volumes and showcasing the talents of those within emergency medicine.

We want to thank you all for a wonderful two years, and look forward to many more years with you all.

Red River Gorge Series 2021

I don't care where you practice - none of us have ever been tried with anything in our line of work like the COVID-19 pandemic. We've all had to face it - we have all had to adapt to the unique sets of challenges it has presented us with and test ourselves. It has been, to say the least, great for my artwork - as I use painting as a therapeutic outlet. I've done more work and progressed as an artist than ever before.

Acrylic on canvas

Untitled

PA School

I’m so grateful that our ER shifts are 3 days a week. The rest of the week gives me time to plan my next artwork. My colleagues participate in my art too. They’re my inspiration. I use them as models and they give me ideas to express our daily hard work as physician assistants, nurses and doctors. Painting and creating art as a representation of my life is therapeutic and a release from the daily stresses we encounter.

Palos Verdes Blue

Do you want to see your art shared with the community? Don’t forget to submit today!

Finally, don’t forget to share Art of Emergency Medicine with your colleagues, friends, and family on Twitter or Instagram and like us on Facebook for all the latest news!

This Months Featured Artists:

Andrew Thorne, MD

I am an emergency medicine resident at Harbor-UCLA with a passion for wilderness medicine. I began pursuing photography in medical school as yet another way to engage with the outdoors and share the beauty I find with others.

Jon Gaddis

My name is Jon. Prior to EKU's Emergency Medical Care program, I'd always taken an interest in fine arts. I currently work as a paramedic in the Emergency Department (I'm also a current student), and my sense of peace has always been tied to outdoor pursuits; those interests led me to volunteer as a Wilderness Paramedic for RedSTAR in Kentucky's Red River Gorge - which had been a source of inspiration for some of my more recent artwork. The experiences I've had over the years in emergency medicine and the lessons I take from it compliment all areas of my being; I am always learning and growing from them. My art (primarily traditional acrylic on canvas) and my interests across the many disciplines might capture some of the moments on my journey, or reflect upon them. I have found great joy in painting and it has translated positively in all areas of my own life - and hope you can find joy in your own art.

Jonathan Warren, MD

A PGY-1 at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and founder of Art of Emergency Medicine. His hobbies include photography, hiking, Netflix, and dogs. He’s always on the lookout for the next adventure.

Molly O’Neil

Before starting medical school I worked and volunteered as an EMT, and during my third year of rotations I’ve found my way back to my first love: Emergency Medicine. I hope to get involved with EMS and wilderness medicine after residency. I’ve always had a passion for art, and paint in my free time. When I had access to a wheel, I would throw pottery as well and hope to have a studio of my own someday. I also like to surf, skateboard, and I enjoy plants and propagation.

Val Tarsia, PA

I’ve been a physician assistant in a fast-paced, busy Emergency room for 6 years. Growing up, I always wanted to study medicine and in college I was fortunate to study fine arts as a minor. My parents encouraged my art hobby since I was a kid. Now I get to share my art and incorporate medicine as my subject. The colleagues I work with are fierce and beautiful models to represent some of the action we experience, especially during Covid-19.

You can learn more about the artists featured in this and other volumes at our contributors page!