The Healer's Art • 2021 • Issue 5

the the
HEALHEERA’SLER’S
ISSUE 5 ISSUE 4
2020
art art2021

is issue is dedicated to

e O ce of Student A airs
and

e O ce of Medical Education

For always prioritizing student wellness and connection
during an unprecedented year.

On the cover: the

Studying My Face artHEALER’S
ISSUE 5
Katie McGlone, MS3 2021

a foreword
from the Creative HeArts Faculty Advisor
Summer 2021

John Allen, MD When I reflect on the last 16 months, I think of several things. I
think of the fear we all felt as we faced the unknown. I think of
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs the helplessness I experienced as I thought of friends, patients,
and family vulnerable to an invisible threat. I think of hope
Assistant Professor of Medicine as we persevered through a long winter. But mostly, I think of
the resilience of my colleagues in medicine and the students at
University of Maryland School of Medicine the University of Maryland. For many of us, the creative arts
are a fundamental part of our personal healing process and an
important tool in preserving our resilience as we rise to the
occasion and face unprecedented challenges.
I have long felt that the healing arts can take many forms, and
artistic expression is a powerful form of healing, growth, and
self-expression. At the University of Maryland, we often say
that patient care begins with self-care. When a physician or
medical student uses creative expression to cope with whatever
challenge they face, it allows them to better face adversity and
to be the best version of themselves. And this healing practice
has never been more important, since many of us have dealt
with tremendous hardship during the pandemic.
I am thrilled to say that the work contained in this issue of
the Healer’s Art is truly exceptional. In the following pages,
you will see examples of our students and faculty embracing
their creative vision and expressing themselves freely. I am
tremendously proud of our Creative HeArts team. We have
come a long way, but we have a very long journey ahead of us. I
encourage us all to allow these works of art to help guide us in
our journey of healing both our patients and ourselves.

the Creative HeArts team

Michael Sikorski, GS3 Christine Yuan, MS2

During a pandemic marked by isolation, Creative HeArts has reminded me to not lose
uncertainty, and tragedy, our medical school sight of the humanistic side of medicine. Being
community had to adapt and cope. Where a part of this team has given me the opportunity
words do not suffice, many of us have turned to reflect on my experiences, attribute deeper
to the visual arts contained in these pages to meaning to them, and also carve out time for
navigate and memorialize this difficult year. hobbies that keep me whole. For me, that's
design, drawing, or anything that involves
creating things with my hands!

Isha Darbari, MS2 Chaoyang Wang, MS2

The moment I saw a Creative HeArts publication Piano and painting have both been hobbies of
from a college friend, I was inspired by the level mine for several years now, so I joined Cre-
of creativity, wisdom, and vulnerability. This ative HeArts to stay in touch with my artistic
journal has encouraged me to use art as a means side and encourage others to embrace theirs. I
of acceptance and reflection, as well as a break believe that medicine is an art in itself and re-
from reality when needed. I'm grateful for this flecting upon our experiences in medical school
glimpse into the journeys of our classmates as and beyond, through whatever medium, is an
we embark on these highs and lows together. important part of our growth as future doctors.

Alyssa Schledwitz, MS2 Rachel Bailey, MS1

Through the challenges of this past year, I joined Creative HeArts because I resonated
music and art has served as an outlet for me with their mission of reflecting on life's
to articulate, reflect on, and learn from my journeys. Creating art has always been my way
experiences, as I’m sure it has for many others. of reflecting, and I wanted to help provide an
I’m grateful to be a part of Creative HeArts outlet for others to express themselves too.
because it helps motivate me to take time for
self-improvement - especially in times like Beita Badiei, MS1
these, it’s important that we as students maintain
a space at UMSOM to encourage this. The arts have always been an integral part of my
life and I am so grateful for the Creative HeArts
Kaitlyn Freels, MS1 community for fostering an environment that
encourages us all, no matter our background,
A student at my interview day recommended to use the creative process to reflect on our
Creative HeArts and I was immediately experiences and connect with others.
interested. I loved that there were other
medical students that find joy in creativity and
self-expression. Art is my outlet for creating
something not for the sake of production, but
reflection and peace in even the most troubling
times.

2 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Table of Contents

Foreword...........................................................................................................1
The Creative HeArts Team.............................................................................2
Table of Contents.............................................................................................3
To my future lupus patient, from behind a slide John Clifton, MS2.......4
Shock Therapy Theresa Yu, MS3..................................................................5
Blooming from Sadness Rachel Orlinsky, MS3..........................................6
Studying My Face Katie McGlone, MS3.......................................................7
A Snapshot of Third Year Gaia Cicerchia, MS3..........................................8
Home Michael Sikorski, GS3........................................................................9
In or Out? Kaitlyn Freels, MS1...................................................................10
Springtime Sunrise Lavanya Garnepudi, MS3.........................................12
Lean On Me Chaoyang Wang, MS2 and Nisita Dutta, MS1...................13
Eternity Beita Badiei, MS1..........................................................................14
why are you here? Ryan Thompson, MS3.................................................15
Vapor OC Dahlia Kronfli, MS3..................................................................16
Pets of Baltimore Windows Dahlia Kronfli, MS3....................................18
The Best is Yet to Come Ryan Thompson, MS3.......................................19
Community Rachel Bailey, MS1.................................................................20

For more submissions, including multimedia & videos,
please visit the Creative HeArts website,

creativeheartsumb.wixsite.com/thehealersart
and Instagram

@TheHealersArt

3The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

To my future lupus patient,
from behind a slide

John Clifton, MS2

I would have greatly preferred to meet you in person.
Instead, I watch you fluoresce through machines that glow
not nearly as bright as I imagine your eyes.
How did it feel when tears first met your malar rash?
This is not on the checklist, but it seems important.
I apologize in advance for these boxes-
they bring diagnostic finesse, allow for didactic ease,
but you don’t live there and they hurt my soul.
I haven’t seen them yet, but I doubt they have room
for your fears and insecurities, the subtle ones,
the ones we don’t want to say out loud,
the ones that keep us imprisoned.
I hope we can talk about them some day.

4 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Shock Therapy

Theresa Yu, MS3

The painting depicts a patient receiving electroconvulsive
therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

5The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Brush pen on canvas

Blooming from Sadness

Rachel Orlinsky, MS3

This piece was made as a way to process my psychiatry rotation on the
adolescent mood disorders unit at Sheppard Pratt. I was inspired by
my patients who used art as a means of expression when their words
felt insufficient. I had the privilege to be part of their healing process,
watching as they transformed acts of self-harm (illustrated in the stem)
into more productive coping mechanisms.

6 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Studying My Face

Katie McGlone, MS3

Colored pencils on sketch paper

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A Snapshot of Third Year

Gaia Cicerchia, MS3

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Home

Michael Sikorski, GS3

9The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

In or out?

Kaitlyn Freels, MS1

10 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

11The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Springtime Sunrise

Lavanya Garnepudi, MS3

Caught this beautiful and peaceful sunrise outside my window
while getting ready to come into the hospital early one morning.

12 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Lean On Me

Chaoyang Wang, MS2

Nisita Dutta, MS1

Nisita: Vocals and Audio Production
Chao: Vocals, Piano, Artwork and Video Production

13The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Eternity

Beita Badiei, MS1

With this piece, I wanted to create an optical illusion with triangles, the strongest
of all shapes that is often used throughout religion, art, and architecture to
symbolize enlightenment, spirituality, and unity. For me, this piece represents
interconnectedness and eternity. Just as the triangles are connected to each other
and seem to exist in various planes of space, I believe that the spirit of all living
beings are connected in the same way. Many years ago, it struck me to learn that
the elements making up the human body originated from the dust of supernova
stars. After our spirit passes on, our bodies contribute to the creation of more life.
When I find myself overwhelmed with the world, I find comfort in the mystical
ways of the universe: our existence is billions of years in the making and every
moment spent experiencing it is magical.

14 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

why are you here?

Ryan Thompson, MS3

15The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Vapor OC Dahlia Kronfli, MS3

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17The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Pets of Baltimore Windows

Dahlia Kronfli, MS3

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The Best is Yet to Come

Ryan Thompson, MS3

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Community Rachel Bailey, MS1

During the peak of the pandemic, I sold custom portraits to raise money for Project C.U.R.E.,
a non-profit that donates medical supplies to resource-limited communities across the globe.
Each person pictured above not only made a positive impact but left me feeling closer to my
community in a time where distance was required. I loved using my art to bring smiles to
people’s faces and to support the healthcare heroes on the frontlines.

20 The Healer’s Art ◆ 2021

Copyright © 2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used, reproduced, edited, stored, or transmitted in any

manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher and authors of original works.
Published July 2021  Printed in Maryland, USA

Any donations to the Creative HeArts team go towards programming and future publications.