The Asclepian

COOPER MEDICAL SCHOOL OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF ART & LITERATURE VOLUME V // 2020-2021 THE ASCLEPIAN A Note on the Front Cover Changing with the Times - Telemedicine Pencil on Paper Zain Shahzad, Class of 2024 Seemingly out of nowhere, we have found ourselves in a novel and defining moment that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us. The fact that any mention of the pandemic and its impact on daily life has become cliché testifies to the radical change that a single historical event has brought on all members of society. In medicine, the pandemic has forced the healthcare system to re-evaluate existing technologies and practices, and either adapt to new pressures or altogether disappear. In light of just how drastically the medical field has had to adjust in one year, the cover-piece aims to satirically capture the portrait of medicine during the pandemic. At the center of the piece, the computer screen shows a patient and physician engaged in a video meeting – a depiction of the rise of telemedicine as a mode of routine patient-physician interactions. Beyond the screen, however, the boxy desktop, the flimsy microphone, and the loosely-placed webcam, are outdated technologies that contrast with advanced means of healthcare delivery. This comical juxtaposition underscores the adaptation of existing technologies and the resilience of healthcare professionals in serving the needs of medical-service delivery during the pandemic. However, it is important to note that while serving as a vital bridge between healthcare providers and patients, telemedicine has also contributed to the distance and isolation created by the pandemic. Within this newfound interpersonal void lies a moment of introspection. As we look hopefully towards a post-pandemic world, the future face of medicine remains to be seen. The Asclepian 1 Editor’s Note Dear Reader, It is with great pleasure that we present the fifth edition of The Asclepian, a journal of art and literature, created by the students at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and made possible by the wonderful work of the Cooper community. The title of the magazine pays homage to the hero Asclepius, the god of medicine in Greek mythology. Asclepius was born from the dead and brought healing to the world. The life of Asclepius reminds us of the mission of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, a medical school born to a devitalized city, cultivating the next generation of healers for the Camden community and beyond. In an increasingly fast-paced world of medicine, the humanities provide an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the powerful experiences we encounter. As you come across the reflections in this edition, you will have the opportunity to view the world through many perspectives, each of which highlights the importance of empathy in its own unique way. We hope to see the power of empathy continuing to thrive in the practice of medicine because while our medical knowledge and skills may be limited, our compassion for those we serve is not. We have been deeply moved by the abundance of creativity in our Cooper community and are pleased to share The Asclepian with you. We hope you all enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. Sincerely, Nisa Mohammed, Editor in Chief, Class of 2023 Sruthi Srinivasan, Senior Editor, Class of 2023 Jagathi Kalluru, Senior Editor, Class of 2024 Ameena Rana, Associate Editor, Class of 2021 Brenda Arthur, Associate Editor, Class of 2021 Shrina Patel, Associate Editor, Class of 2022 Elana Perlow, Associate Editor, Class of 2022 Simran Kripalani, Associate Editor, Class of 2022 Poyani Bavishi, Associate Editor, Class of 2023 Casey Krickus, Associate Editor, Class of 2023 Marina Najjar, Associate Editor, Class of 2023 Constantine Pella, Associate Editor, Class of 2023 Jenna Kwiecinski, Associate Editor, Class of 2024 Zain Shahzad, Associate Editor, Class of 2024 Justin Ungerleider, Associate Editor, Class of 2024 Dr. Mara Gordon, MD, Faculty Advisor Dr. John McGeehan, MD, Faculty Advisor The Asclepian 2 Contents In Communion- Natalie Morris 4 Connections- Nisa Mohammed 5 Sonder- Jagathi Kalluru 6 Overcast- Jagathi Kalluru 7 Six Feet- Constantine Pella 8 Sternum Stuff- Meghna Bhattacharyya 9 To Hide and To Seek- Elana Perlow 10 Retinal Holes with Lattice Degeneration- Linda Zhang 11 Hard Conversations- Poyani Bavishi 12 The Fight- Matthew Nelson 14 Long Night- Katherine Cerniglia 15 The Serpent—a tale of the Marjolin ulcer- Jack Saddemi 16 Cataclysm- Simran Kripalani 17 5 Seconds- Niharika Padala 18 Rest & Rejuvenate- Nisa Mohammed 20 From MD to Flight Attendant- Dr. Tarek Nakhla 21 Spanish Lessons in the Pandemic- Dr. Mara Gordon 22 Hope- Jen Garefino 23 24 We Will Kick COVID!- Jen Garefino Amazon: The Clandestine Burden to New Jersey's Public Health System- Gabrielle Miller 25 Community Health Clinic in Mandalay, Myanmar (c. 2017)- Jack Saddemi 27 28 How Many Socks- Marina Najjar Lice- Charisa Gillette 29 One Person- Niharika Padala 30 31 Solitude- Belle Lin I Must Have Missed You- Aarushi Chopra 32 Hey Google- Shrina Patel 33 Home- Nisa Mohammed 34 The Asclepian 3 Lifting Spirits- Jen Garefino 35 In Communion Natalie Morris, Class of 2024 I have not met much of the city I thought I would be calling home. My feet have rarely ventured throughout this place, rarely have I met the individuals I may treat. But I grew up in the Catholic Church, and I learned early on that you do not have to see to believe, that being in communion with others does not require a physical presence. So, I connect in new ways now—laughing as a child I tutor shares a joke with me, grateful that although we are in different locations in the same city, through screens, we can see each other’s actual smiles. Note: A version of this poem appeared in written form in the Spring 2021 Center for Humanism Newsletter of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. The Asclepian 4 Connections Photograph Nisa Mohammed, Class of 2023 The Asclepian 5 Sonder Jagathi Kalluru, Class of 2024 Be kind. At one point or another, it’s a statement we’ve all heard and often brushed off as just an old adage. Nowadays, I find this frivolous saying situated at the forefront of my thoughts. Each one of us is a walking novel with an intricate storyline, complete with peaks and valleys, miracles and tragedies. However, sometimes we’re so unintentionally caught up in our own narratives, that we fail to acknowledge the parallel paths unfolding around us. The emotions and thoughts that others display are accepted at face value as accurate and complete. Their obstacles and subsequent progress are blinded by our oblivion, assumptions, and tunnel vision. I’m inclined to believe that such disregard is human nature, but as physicians, we must make an active effort to recognize and displace this bias. Years ago, in high school, a classmate mocked my aspirations to pursue a career in healthcare. He seized every opportunity to comment on my shortcomings which led to me characterize him as uncompassionate. Recently, I learned that he was hospitalized for a congenital septal defect (ironically, a literal hole in his heart). He had been silently struggling to succumb to the confines of time. He apprehended, perhaps loathed, to set goals and follow them through. For, what was the value in doing so if he was only destined to live until 40? How suffocating must it have been to be surrounded by youth eagerly awaiting their futures while he battled to find a sense of purpose. If I reached out to him with more thoughtfulness, instead of turning a blind eye towards his intentions, would his attitude have changed in the slightest? I live by the motto that even the most modest actions have the power to inspire change. This principle, paired with the privilege to appreciate and explore human vulnerability, nurtures an empathetic non-judgmental space for our patients. To create such an environment, we must first listen to others through their search for stability, in addition to responding to their words and actions. For some, this stability lies in a career or in a family, while for others it lies in the miracle of waking up to the warmth of the sun another morning. Hence, when unsure of which path those around us are walking, what better step to take than to extend humanity? I spoke mostly about showing compassion to others, although it is arguably just as important, if not more, to reflect that compassion inwards as well. In times of distress, gift yourself affirmation, consolation, and leniency. After all, in order to appropriately showcase compassion and understand its effects on others, you must first experience this kindness yourself. The Asclepian 6 Overcast Photograph Jagathi Kalluru, Class of 2024 Sonder: (n) the profound realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own The Asclepian 7 Six Feet Constantine Pella, Class of 2023 Six feet below me Bodies of the young and old Six feet just ahead Sharing the same fate Hordes of the fearful masses Don with masks and gloves Six feet above me I ask the sky for guidance Six feet to the right But still no answer Shelves once lush and bountiful Gather dust and mites Six feet is too far Just enough personal space Six feet to the left To feel so alone Still streets, quiet and empty No children at play Six feet is too close One precisely placed droplet Six feet behind me And I join the rest Signs and warnings lay in rest Of the path ahead Six months, perhaps more The status quo will return We will overcome The Asclepian 8 Made of Sternum Stuff Pen and Pencil Meghna Bhattacharyya, Class of 2022 The Asclepian 9 erlow, Class of 2022 To Hide To Seek And Elana Perlow, Class of 2022 As told at the third annual College of Physicians Story Slam When winter days were cut short and the weather turned too cold to play outside, Carla and her cousins went to their uncle’s family-owned funeral home.

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