AENIGMA MEDICORUM The Puzzle of Doctors An annual literary review of the works of Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine students, faculty and residents
Volume 5 | 2020
AENIGMA MEDICORUM Volume 5 2020 Funding provided by the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Office of Diversity & Inclusion Designed by Annalisha Johnson Printed by Lee Graphics Inc. St. Albans, West Virginia Digital edition available at jcesom.marshall.edu/students/aenigmamedicorum/ To submit artwork for next year’s edition at aenigmamedicorum@gmail.com
The Aenigma Medicorum Student Editorial Committee (from left to right) Christine Yu, Mercy Babatope, Michelle Rueff, Deena Dahshan
Executive Editor Mercy Babatope Layout Editor Michelle Rueff Submission Editor Nafeeza Hussain, MD Selection Committee Deena Dahshan Tamara Murphy, MD Christine Yu
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Letter From The Editors Welcome to the 5th edition of Aenigma Medicorum, The art and literary Review of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. Aenigma Medicorum: The Puzzle of Doctors, showcases the creativity of Marshall’s medical community. It is our mission to enrich our community through sharing and supporting the artistic talents of our peers. Experiencing different perspectives build a diverse community that better understand the world around us. We are thankful and honored to support the courageous artists and art lovers who make this magazine possible. Many medical students, physicians, and alumni use their arts form to redefine the physician-patient relationship, the various approaches to medicine through self-expression. With this publication, we hope to highlight the talents within the community while bringing awareness of the various perspectives in our healthcare system. As they strive to provide the utmost care through the art of medicine, we are proud to honor the other forms of medicine through their arts—the poet, the painter, the photographer, and the musician. We would like to thank the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and Dr. Shelvy Campbell-Monroe. With your continued support and encouragement from the projects inception, we have been able to enrich and support our community through the medicine of the arts.
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Table of Contents PHOTOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................ 8 Kristina Melvin, MD.......................................................................................................................................9 Lee Mendenhall, MD................................................................................................................................ 10 Martha Sommers, MD............................................................................................................................. 11 Gregory Hill, MD ............................................................................................................................. 12 – 13 Hunter White ..................................................................................................................................... 14 – 15 Mohammed Ranavaya............................................................................................................................ 16 PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS...................................................................................................17 Katina Nicoloudakis.................................................................................................................................. 18 Alexa Pigliacampi....................................................................................................................................... 19 Christine Yu ................................................................................................................................................... 20 MUSIC.........................................................................................................................................21 Aryana Misaghi............................................................................................................................................ 22 LITERARY...................................................................................................................................23 Matthew Christiansen, MD, MPH .................................................................................................... 24 Mercy Babatope.......................................................................................................................................... 25 Deena Dahshan................................................................................................................................ 26 – 27 Jamila Ranavaya, MD..................................................................................................................... 28 – 29 Lawrence M. Wyner, MD ....................................................................................................................... 30
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“
The arts are a critical component of healthcare. Expressive art is a tool to explore, develop and practice creativity as a means to wellness.
”
– Wellarts Association
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PHOTOGRAPHY
“
Variety of form and brilliancy of color in the object presented to patients are an actual means of recovery.
”
– Florence Nightingale
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Untitled by Kristina Melvin, MD My name is Kristina Melvin, MD. I am a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and I have been on Faculty at MUSOM in the Behavioral Health Department since 2014. I am also a wife and mother of 2 boys. I love photography and my favorite subjects are animals and my sons. Although my youngest son is not in this picture, he was the one feeding the seagulls that day and as I was watching the birds hovering above our heads I just had to try and capture their beauty. This picture was taken in Sunset Beach, NC.
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Untitled by Lee Mendenhall, MD | Class of 2020 One of the greatest joys in my life has been the opportunity to create community. There is nothing more magical than bringing together a group of strangers from diverse backgrounds and watching them develop lifelong friendships. The art is in capturing the feeling of those moments when they arise - a sentiment that is rekindled when revisiting the photo.
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Untitled by Martha Sommers, MD I am back as a Marshall Family Medicine faculty, returning twenty-five years after completing my residency in our International Medicine Track. The years inbetween were mainly spent in Africa, training health workers and providing care. I learned the techniques for utilizing smalti glass at the Chicago Mosaic School when recovering from successful treatment for recurrent breast cancer. Now, as my shattered bones from a dogsledding accident mend, I plan my next pieces. Crafting broken pieces into mosaics helps me work through my body’s healing.
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Ohi’a Lehua by Gregory Hill, MD | Class of 2020
Once upon a time, the handsome warrior Ohi’a, in love with the beautiful Lehua, turned down the marriage proposal of the Volcano Goddess, Pele. Enraged, Pele transformed him into a gnarled gray tree. Lehua desired to be with Ohi’a again, so she appealed to the gods, who instead of restoring him to his original form, made her a flower on his branches. The ancient Hawaiians recognized the beauty of this flower and picked it from the trees for hula ceremonies, each time separating the lovers and bringing the rain of their tears to the land. Today Rapid Ohi’a Death (ROD) blights Ohi’a Lehua, leaving the fate of the island of Hawaii’s official flower in jeopardy and potentially bringing an end to this legendary love story. This photo was taken in October 2019 at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
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Trail Sign - Romania by Hunter White | Class of 2022 My name is Hunter White. I am from Clendenin, WV and I’m a 2nd year at MUSOM. For me, photography began as a hobby to document the things in life I found to be beautiful. I started on film to help learn the basics of shooting photos, and I fell in love with the process. I love this medium because it requires so much skill and attention to detail; I feel like I will always have room to grow as a film photographer. Photography provided a creative outlet that was stimulating in a different way than the sciences. I am thankful for photography for forcing me to slow down and enjoy the little bits of beauty in life. Both photos were shot with a Canon A-1 on Ilford XP2 B&W Film.
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Volcanic Columns - Sicily, Italy by Hunter White | Class of 2022
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Leaping Faith by Mohammed Ranavaya | Class of 2021 My inspiration for my photography comes from an interest instilled in me by my mentor Dr. James Joy to pay attention to the world around me, especially that which often goes unseen. Whether it small creatures like a jumping spider, or relatively larger animal like a bird, there is always something to learn. Simply put, it’s like Richard Feynman PhD, a two time Nobel Prize winner in Physics stated: “It’s the joy of finding things out”.
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Painting & Drawings
“
Art does not reproduce what we see, it MAKES us see.
”
– Paul Klee
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Untitled by Katina Nicoloudakis | Class of 2021 both are original watercolor paintings
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Untitled by Alexa Pigliacampi | Class of 2023 Alexa Pigliacampi, is currently a member of Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Class of 2023. This piece of artwork is a black and white acrylic painting of her with her dog, Carly. By bringing this piece with her to Huntington, Carly has remained by her side. She began painting in middle school after her mother signed her up for an art camp. Before beginning medical school, some of her pieces were showcased in local art shows, this one included.
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Orphan Annie eye by Christine Yu | Class of 2021 I started my love of bioart while working on my thesis in Digital Media Studies from MIT. My thesis adviser took me to the Koch Institute where digital artwork taken from microscopes is hung on the wall. Watercolor has always been my favorite medium, and as someone who plans to go into pathology, watercolor truly is the perfect medium to recapture the essence of a slide. This piece was created as a gift for my mentor, Dr. Krista Denning ‘04, since she mentioned she loved the artistic qualities of papillary thyroid cancer in a lecture.
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Music
“
Music is the medicine of the mind.
”
– John Logan
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MS1: Performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Le Merle Noir (Blackbird) Aryana Misaghi | Class of 2023
Aryana Misaghi is a first year medical student. Before medical school, she worked as a musician and arts administrator, teaching flute at Marshall University and managing the West Virginia Youth Symphony. This selection, Le merle noir by Olivier Messiaen, comes from her last solo recital. It features the organic sounds of the blackbird and the quiet musings of its onlooker.
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Literary
“
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him… We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.
”
– John F. Kennedy
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Comparing lists But this week I’m clean He said. You’re throwing me back to the streets He said. I just got my kids back He said. I thought you were here to help. The wave of doubt Twisted my stomach in knots. You need a higher level of care I said. You’re not taking the medicine I said. You’re using heroin anyway I said. It’s just our policy. I had made a list - resolute, final, and unwavering I thought I knew what he would say …but he had made a list too. We tried to look into each others eyes But the glances were fleeting. The space between us lengthened A cough broke the silence. I’m letting him go…. Just like everyone else. Matthew Christiansen, MD, MPH Department of Family Medicine, Division of Addiction Sciences Dr. Christiansen is a West Virginia native who is passionate about primary care and addiction medicine. He enjoys seeing patients, doing all-things outdoors, and spending time with his awesome one-year-old twin boys.
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Why me? It’s 2pm yet the world feels dark The blood of black men covers the cloud The tears of black women and children spilled on the street Treading carefully, I slipped into despair Why do you hate us? Is it because we endured slavery without going into extinction? Is it because of our strength that makes us excel in sports? Is it because of our creativity and talents in arts, music, dance that you so desire? Or our tan skin, full lips, and the swing in our hips? Why is my existence threatening? All I desire is to be left alone To grow from infancy into adulthood I don’t want to change the world Only to live and be loved Why won’t you let me breathe? Your knees stifled the air out of my lungs My cry for help becomes inaudible My body laid out for my kin to see Stay in line or you might be next Why is it always me? Mercy Babatope | Class of 2021
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Truths 1. Admitting you are vulnerable is not a weakness 2. Chocolate will be there 3. If you overstress and do poorly, you suffer twice 4. Calling home is a good place to start 5. The pants did not shrink 6. The best learning opportunities were the ones you didn’t have to write down 7. Gratitude is the best attitude 8. Life does not stop 9. Taking breaks is to work smarter 10. You will not have most of what you diagnose yourself with 11. Your people are proud
Deena Dahshan | Class of 2022 Before medical school, I enjoyed competing in Prose, Duo, and After Dinner Speaking. I’ve always loved word play and puns and am easily captivated by spoken word performances, written poetry as well as painting and photography. A doctor I shadowed as a first year med student had framed his work all over his clinic and his patients constantly commented on and felt strongly connected to these pieces of expression, inspiring me to do the same! I also enjoy spontaneous traveling, cooking new recipes, eating good food, weight lifting, and spending time with family and friends.
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Untitled I close my eyes and see a little girl Wishing she’d grow faster Every morning, checking if the planted seed has become a tree. Counting leaves, counting inches, counting minutes The sentences she speaks are too fast for her tongue too big for her mouth Running around the room before they sprint between the finish line of her lips She models her mother’s heels too big for the soles of her feet Thinking her soul was too old for her little frame Told it was better not to be too big Not to be the Jack of Spades in Slap Jack, Always getting slapped and bruised by the world Calling out labels that would stick like the clingy child Not wanting her mother to abandon her on the first day. The little girl goes every morning and learns rules Contemplating how she would fit in. Acceptance. She accepts that she will do her best. Her best dress was not as pretty as the other girls, she felt Her feelings are too enormous for the world, Wanting to encompass the universe in her thoughts. Excitement, hesitation, invigoration, heartbreak, doubt How can she be all at once. Like an amplifying melody chorus gaining new performers, Once the drums came, she caught on the rhythm. Her own pace, she grew. Opened her eyes and counted some more leaves. Almost blossoming. Hopeful. Deena Dahshan | Class of 2022
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The Building Time had not done the old building any good. It had warped her – And changed her – Until it was generally understood… … That to venture in was beyond unsafe For the floors had rotten through. And There Really Wasn’t anything anyone could do.
Jamila Ranavaya, MD | Class of 2020 I’ve been writing poetry consistently since the 6th grade and prose for considerably longer. For me, writing is a fantastic stress reliever, a way to explore the world and work through the highs and lows of life. In terms of inspiration, my favorite poet is Walter de la Mare but I have also found inspiration in Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson. As the oldest of five kids, I will forever be grateful to my family for listening to my writing over the years. I dedicate all of it to them.
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Beautiful and Strange I’d take the broken Bones Of Sticks and Stones Over the World’s Groans Or an Audience’s Moans. For words are my skill, My trade, My thrill. The way I connect – - And truly feel. So hit me. Break me. Rearrange me. But leave me my tongue. To describe Moon, Star, and Sun, In equal turn, Upon the Stage, With Joy and Rage. And in doing so remain Human.
Creature Beautiful and Strange.
Jamila Ranavaya, MD | Class of 2020
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Lawrence M. Wyner, MD Professor, Department of Urology I am a professor of urology and have been a member of the JCESOM faculty since 2008. I owe my creative instincts to my students and colleagues here at Marshall!
DOWN 1. ___Sina, also know as Avicenna (980-1037), famous physician 2. Why we scrub 3. How you feel on first day of internship 4. Resume 5. Pain receptor 6. Root of diaphragm 8. ___ thee I sing 9. Atrial ___ 11. ___ garde 13. Day (Heb.) 16. Joins oropharynx to stomach 17. Fourth years can relax (more) after this 20. Needed to hear this 21. God (Lat.) 22. What you are now (not God) 23. Sun God 25. Mrs. (Germ.) 26. Must get vaccinated for 31. Wow (Fren.) 33. Famous plastic surgeon (1971- ) 38. What you’ll be next month 40. Opposite of both 42. Saves your derriere 45. ___ you like it 50. ___ hear this 51. Working nights/weekends 52. Never say when patient awake 53. ___ Golden Pond 54. Good for breakfast
ACROSS 1. ___ not now, when then 2. ___, I missed 3. ___ time is bathroom time 4. Croupy breath sounds 5. Coming tomorrow 7. Mediates erection 10. Legalese for “Regarding” 12. Acronym traditionally said by pimpees to pimpers after Match Day, i.e., _____ _____, buddy, I got my internship 14. Home of the Tar Heels 15. Marshallese for “consulting on case” 18. Needed to pull NG tube 19. Water mammal 20. __Ranchito - good place to eat if cafeteria closed 22. Xrays are on this 24. Buffoon 28. Can’t hear 29. You’ll see a lot of this next year 30. Toro ___ good place to eat in Ironton 32. Doctor of Nursing 33. Yo-Yo 34. Arbitrary limit 35. All the vowels 36. 3.14159 37. Polish Airways 39. Pittsburghese for “y’all” 41. Tiny Tim’s initials 43. Tennessee team’s name 44. Now ___ this 46. Mate for Ma 47. East Asian epidemic 48. International Assembly 49. Takes care of your patient
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Aenigma Medicorum 2020
