MEDICINE AND THE ARTS
From Relevés to Residency
The majority of my life has been split between two worlds - the artistic world of dance and the academic world of science . One of my earliest birthday gifts was a children ’ s book called Charlie Brown ’ s ‘ Cyclopedia : Your Amazing Body , and learning to read this book while twirling in a pink tutu marked the beginning of my path to medicine . As a dancer , I began my training in ballet while dabbling in other common styles , but my focus changed to jazz , pom and hip-hop when I joined my college dance team .
As a young teenager , my love for dance evolved into serious dedication . I loved the delicate nature and emotion that make dance an art and the fierce athleticism that makes it a sport . This dual understanding led to nearly 20 hours at the barre and in rehearsal each week . I trained with the intensity of a professional ballet dancer because I wanted to become one . This intensity , however , put me on the brink of injury , so I studied anatomy to help me understand what muscles and tendons I strained with every jump , turn and relevé . Yet my dedication was not limited to the dance studio ; I was also committed to doing my best at school . This academic motivation strengthened my resolve to understand how the human body works , so I sought out every book and opportunity I could find . Moreover , my independent study of anatomy brought forth more questions - how did my brain tell my muscles to move ? How did my lungs provide my blood with oxygen ? How did my eyes maintain my balance through pirouettes ?
One day , my mother , who works as a nurse anesthetist , suggested I come with her to my local hospital to explore the human body in a different setting . I agreed and rose early that fateful day to prepare myself for watching surgery , but nothing could prepare me for the wonders of seeing inside the human body . In this first surgery , the orthopedic surgeon used an arthroscopic instrument to repair the patient ’ s torn anterior cruciate ligament while taking the time to teach me about this procedure in terms that I would understand . Each physician I observed that day showed this same desire to share their passion for medicine with me , whether it was identifying the organs inside the abdominal cavity or explaining the squiggly lines on the anesthesia monitor . I could still smell the adhesive mask residue on my face on my way home when I suddenly knew that medicine was my calling . by ELIZABETH DUGAN , MD
Upon starting college , the fracture between my two worlds began to heal . For the first time in my life , I did not merely exist as an attentive student and a dancer simultaneously - I thrived as both . My transition from a classical ballet background to an athletic college dance program was not a fast one , however . Over the course of my freshman year , I learned to adapt to these new circumstances by applying the discipline I learned in ballet to the uniformity of the dance team ’ s style . I built muscle that would have made me look bulky in ballet class , gaining definition in my limbs where smooth lines previously existed . The fluidity and effortlessness ingrained from years of ballet was still useful in jazz , but I learned to turn it off instantly when switching to pom ’ s sharpness or hip-hop ’ s groove . Though I missed ballet at times , I loved my newfound versatility and strength as a dancer and national champion , and these adaptations and accomplishments have helped to frame my understanding of the capabilities of the human body .
While dance gave me an introduction to the human body on the whole , as a young scientist I wanted to explore the details . Majoring in biochemistry gave me opportunities to discover how life on the cellular and molecular levels has an impact on entire organ systems , and my medical education deepened this understanding further than I could have predicted . My first research project in college introduced me to in vitro cell culture , and I spent one summer in medical school learning about neuroplasticity in mice . In the years that followed , I focused on clinical projects , such as case reports and an epidemiological study on age-related macular degeneration . Conducting such research alongside the rigors of medical school has helped me conceptually link metabolic and cellular processes to medical conditions in a patient .
Years ago , I used my eyes to maintain my balance through pirouettes , and after my medicine internship , I will have the privilege to begin training as an ophthalmologist . My perception of dance as an art and a sport has driven my curiosity to learn about the human body for as long as I can remember , and my calling as a physician is shaped by both this dance-oriented perspective and my scientific curiosity . If I can use what I have learned from my two worlds to heal people ’ s bodies and restore their vision , then there is nothing else I would rather do with my life than help people return to their normal lives . Dr . Dugan is a preliminary medicine intern at the University of Louisville .
October 2022 9