Volume 23

March - 2021

Cover: 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

Letter from the Editors:

Wondering how you can best focus on wellness this month? As it’s March Madness and we’re getting caught up in the excitement on the court, we’ve decided to focus on our physical wellness. Getting out and active for 20-30 minutes per day helps clear minds, reduce stress, and promote focus in other aspects of life. In kids it can improve goal oriented projects and sense of competence, in the elderly it promotes independence, and can improve mood for all.

Try to take the time this month to go on weekly hikes, find an online workout program you enjoy, or do that morning yoga session you’ve been meaning to join. Whatever you find that gets your body active and moving will be perfect.

Disintegration

I created this artwork after a year of rediscovering painting while recovering from an illness. I was using silicone scar gel for my surgical wound, so I wondered what might happen if I mixed a little into my acrylic paints in preparation for this paint pour. This is the result! I'm mesmerized by the beautiful concentric patterns produced, which to me almost look like mini portals to another dimension or another state of mind.

Materials: Acrylic, silicone, pouring medium

City of blues and red

Being part of the medical team that cared for shooting victims night after night. Despite what I’ve seen I still want to be a EM physician.

Acrylic on a map of my city with red and black paint.

sunsets and sunbeams

All too often I am getting off of a shift after the sun has set, the color faded from the sky, and darkness crept across the city. So sunsets have become a magical event for me. They’ve gone from a passive experience, to me now hunting and enjoying them. Squeezing every last golden ray from the disappearing orb. From this, I’ve learned to actively pursue my other passions, goals, and use this to reach new heights.

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:

Clare Patterson

Art has always been my backup, the thing I turn to when nothing else makes sense. I’m not yet in medical school but will hopefully be starting this fall. I fell in absolute love with emergency medicine while working as a scribe before and after graduate school.

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.

Tiffany K. Fan

I am an MS3 at UCLA interested in pursuing emergency medicine; however my career path took an unexpected turn this year as I needed to take a leave of absence for an urgent surgery. I rediscovered painting as an escape from pain during my illness and recovery, and hope my own experiences as a patient will shape my ability to provide empathetic care to vulnerable patients in the ED as a future provider.

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