MEDICINE AND THE ARTS
Medicine and the Arts
by KATIE WILMES , BS
In medicine we often meet people on some of the worst days of their lives , but photography allows me to meet people on some of their best days ever . What started as a creative outlet has turned into not only a hobby , but also a business . Photography allows me to reset and refocus , often it reminds me of the bigger picture in life . Additionally , it allows me to travel , connect with old and new friends , but it has also taught me to appreciate the small moments in life : the ones I had previously overlooked because they were not “ photo worthy ” enough for a social media post .
The pandemic opened my eyes to how fragile life is . It was important to document my memories with loved ones , but I didn ’ t want them to just be another photo on my phone . I wanted to learn the skill of shooting in manual and editing raw images . I had just started my second year of medical school when several extracurricular activities had been cancelled . I began researching all things photography . I finally took a leap of faith and purchased a camera . I spent countless hours watching tutorials online and practicing . I started documenting life milestones for my friends . I realized I had so much fun photographing other people ’ s life events . I left each session , filled with so much joy and excitement , the happiness that filled the photos was constantly rubbing off on me . I was surprised when this translated over into my academics , my grades started improving and I was able to focus during lectures . Photography challenged me to be more intentional with my time and pay attention to details .
At times , balancing my academic course work in medical school and photography was challenging . There were times I felt overwhelmed and inadequate in my studies and in my art , but I continued to push myself through each learning curve I encountered . I learned better time management , developed professional relationships and become comfortable making friends with new people .
I was drawn to the calm and stillness that I found in photos . I am fascinated by the ability to capture each second differently and the variety of edits that can transform the photo . Photographs are special , they provide a unique look into the past , serving as physical souvenirs that allow our minds to recreate that exact moment in time . While medicine and the arts may seem so different , they have both become intertwined as passions in my life .
Katie Wilmes is a fourth-year student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine .
14 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE