Dear Boards, Well, our last twelve months together have been a mixture of emotions, ups and downs, lessons, pain, and maybe one or two victories. I first heard the horror stories about you during first year of residency, but at that point I (along with my peers) was just trying to keep my head above…
Immortality & Ethics: The Henrietta Lacks Case
In May 2018, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery installed this portrait of Henrietta Lacks while three of her grandchildren looked on. The fascinating story of this important woman was revealed in Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010). I initially read this book during residency, then revisited it two years ago for a…
Advanced Style
During my morning news fix, I came across a feature about a new coloring book highlighting the stylish seniors. The drawings, illustrated by Ilan Schraer, are modeled after the everyday people photographed by Ari Seth Cohen in his blog and book, Advanced Style. We are always bombarded with images of youth and beauty in the media,…
Who is Forgiveness Really For?
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” [Mohandas Gandhi] I have recently been perusing the old poems I have written, some dating back to my early teenage years. I think I have not written as much poetry since college, aside from one or two poems here and there. I have been…
Sounds from the Outside
Sounds from the Outside Even on the warmest nights I like to keep the window open For the slightest hint of breeze But mostly for the noises of the world That remind me that life is not in stasis That neither my feet nor my mind Are glued to the ground My heart is rejuvenated…
The Sour Taste of Force-Feeding: Gitmo Hunger Strikers
“Where a prisoner refuses nourishment and is considered by the physician as capable of forming an unimpaired and rational judgment concerning the consequences of such a voluntary refusal of nourishment, he or she shall not be fed artificially.” …
Remembering Atticus and India Arie
In the age of electronic communication sent within milliseconds, keeping in touch with friends and family is always accessible. Our devices have become extensions of our beings, as vital as our own pulse. This has vast benefits, from the simple joy of sharing thoughts and photos to the amazing impact on politics, the fate of…
Lana’s Literary Lyrics
Ever since watching the 2013 film version of the classic novel, The Great Gatsby, the music of Lana Del Rey has made its way into my iTunes and serves as great study music. She wrote the original song for the film, and her slinky, sultry voice crooning “Will you still love me/when I’m no longer/young…
One Year Ago…
Today is our first wedding anniversary! It has been a wonderful year of change and happiness, and I am thankful for all the ways in which my life has exponentially improved since meeting and marrying my husband. On this day, we look back on great memories and remember our wedding day, surrounded by our loved…
Bourdain, Bites, and the City of Brotherly Love
Several posts ago, I alluded to the portion of our vacation spent at home in Philadelphia. Our trip to Thailand was flanked on either end by several days in Philly, and we took the opportunity to visit some old favorites as well as venture out to try completely new restaurants. Not having lived there in…
It’s a Wonderful World
Iguazu Falls, Argentina. Photographer: Francesco Filippo Pellegrini The news always highlights the horrific happenings in the world today. These are stories we need to hear about and try to understand, but the sadness and seeming lack of plausible solutions are often difficult to digest. We rarely hear of a good deed, positive influence, joyful occurrence,…
Happy Chocolate City
My last post about my favorite NOLA ice cream shop mentioned some delicious flavors. This post is dedicated to some beautiful art currently displayed there. The past few times I have visited The Creole Creamery, I noticed a strikingly beautiful painting of the city’s map. Known as the Crescent City for its obvious croissant-like shape,…
pen . paper . storm 