Volume 25

June - 2021

Cover: Intubation

I created this piece during my third-year anesthesia rotation, which gave me the opportunity to perform my first intubation. Prior to this clerkship, my only experience in the operating room was from a surgical perspective. I thus wanted to use this illustration to take on the perspective of the anesthesiologist who performs their tasks on the other side of the curtain.

Drawing my experiences throughout each rotation of my third-year clerkships allowed me to reflect on and recognize the aspect from each specialty that I enjoy. Something I recognized on my anesthesia rotation was my enjoyment of procedural work like intubations. This realization, along with many others throughout the year, ultimately culminating in my decision to pursue emergency medicine as a career.

Digital via Procreate

Letter from the Editors:

Welcome to the start of summer! A time when we can beat the outside heat in the temperature controlled environments of our hospitals and ambulances. A time when longer days mean the enjoyment of light and sunsets after shift where people may be inspired to take new photographs, paint new scenes, or compose new songs. Sunsets have always been inspiring for us here at Art of Emergency Medicine and we hope the same is true for all of you.

This month, we’re working on our wellness by focusing on increasing our the awareness of the present. The mind speeds up thoughts and connections when days are routine with similar tasks, it is a code switching within our brain. “We’ve done this before, it’s time for auto-pilot”. So instead, we’re attempting to make the most of every moment. On walks, we’re noticing the sights and sounds and textures we haven’t experienced before. In the hospital, we are doing the same: unique aspects of a patient’s case, differences in our interactions with them, small emotions displayed in the creases of their face.

Slowing down our brain not only helps with clinical acumen (you won’t overlook that small detail), but also allows us to make more of our days, to stay connected to the time and place (how many times have you been unaware what day it was) and slow down what always seems like the fast-forward setting our lives are commonly on. We encourage you to take the opportunity to notice at least one new texture, smell, sound, or experience around with the extra daylight many of us now get to enjoy.

Tundra

Although times have been rough for the entire world during this past year, photography and connecting with nature has been my saving grace. The ability to capture a moment in time and memorialize it on paper or a computer screen provides me a sense of control and wellness. Although memories fade over time, photographs allow you to relive those memories.

Through the pines

My dad has been my inspiration for pursuing photography. It was one of his hobbies that I adopted and when he passed away in 2016, I started pursuing it more. Being able to hike somewhere beautiful and capture a fraction of the beauty I see to share with others helps with burn out. It also gives me something I can look at when times get hard and remind myself of how peaceful I felt on a hike.

A Fancier Bird’s Lungs

Medical school has pathology on my mind all day. Thinking about it in a different context helps to keep things interesting. Created with watercolor and a can do attitude.

Super flower blood moon

I’m thankful that my intern year has trained me to work on minimal amounts of sleep. After a full day in the MICU and a short 3 hour nap, I was up and ready to photograph three hours of the recent eclipse over a nearby pier. I felt so fortunate and so invigorated standing out and so exhausted by the prospect of another full day of MICU awaiting me once I was done photographing.

Digital composite of 12 photos shot during the lunar eclipse.

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

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This Months Featured Artists:

Alexis Germain, MD

I'm a former EMT and incoming EM intern. I've recently started trying to create to stretch my brain a bit more.

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. Find more of his photography on Instagram.

Kelsey Steele

I am a rising 4th year medical student who is interested in EM. My interest in photography start in high school and has progressed and evolved throughout my undergraduate and medical school career. My other hobbies include hiking, running half marathons, mindfulness. See more of her work on Twitter.

Sara Twadell

I am a fourth year medical student pursuing a career as an emergency medicine physician. Before I even decided to pursue a career in medicine, I knew I wanted a profession that allowed me to incorporate my passion for art and drawing. For this reason, I am glad to have found an outlet within the graphic medicine community. I began drawing when I was young, and particularly enjoy ink sketches, water color painting, and digital illustration. See more of her work on Instagram.

Thomas Gage Powell

I am a third-year medical student in West Virginia with a few years of EMS training. I have used photography and editing as a stress relief for years, especially during the pandemic.

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