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If you haven’t yet seen the art show – you haven’t missed your chance! Stop by now through this Friday, May 10th to peruse the display of more than 40 unique items, OR, check out the digital submissions already archived online [fully digitization of physical items still upcoming]. 

Each piece has a story. To cap off the art show, we’ve curated a second collection of the artist’s in their own words. Enjoy! 

Rachel Brill's "Dinah in Yellow Robe" [Acrylic Painting]

An acrylic painting of a cat in the model of a Matisse painting, whimsically wearing a yellow robe.

Dinah in Yellow Robe is my take on Henri Matisse's work, in particular Yellow Odalisque, which I saw at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I love his use of bright colors and a mix of patterns. The unwilling model for this piece is my cat, Dinah.

Rachel Brill, Staff, Himmelfarb

Kenneth Schappelle's "Delhi at Dusk" [Photograph]

A fog covered horizon nearly suffocates a setting sun.

The day before Christmas, we were on our way to New Delhi, traveling down a rural highway from Rishikesh, which sits at the foot of the Himalayas. Rishikesh was a breath of fresh air with its blue skies and the sparkling Ganges River pouring out of the mountains. The closer we got to New Delhi, though, the thicker the smog became. As we approached the outskirts and the sun began to set, you could barely see it through the thick sky. It was disturbing and beautiful all at once.

Kenneth Schappelle, Staff, School of Nursing

Aparna Nanduru’s “Peacock in Repose” [Mixed Media]

A mixed media portrayal of a peacock proudly perched on a blossoming branch.

Adding dimension came from adding multiple types of media into my art. This included using lead pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, acrylic paint, and even white-out in the piece going from top to bottom. As a nature lover, I wanted to demonstrate the ability of these seemingly different art mediums coalescing together to represent diversity and coexistence seen in the environment around us.

Aparna Nanduru, Student, SMHS

Caitlan Davila’s “How to Outrun a Dinosaur” [Digital Artwork]

An illustration of the biological systems operating in the nervous system during crisis.

This drawing exists because I was being cheeky while working through two opposing systems (bronchoconstriction vs. bronchodilation). Why the dinosaurs? That’s the wrong question, my friend. The question is:  why NOT dinosaurs?! Learning ought to be fun; working in subjects we like can make a real difference in retention. 

Caitlan Davila, Student, SMHS

Ruth Bueter’s “Wingspan” [Photograph]

A turkey vultures poses perched with full wing-span at Chiricahua National Monument.

After finishing my Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science and Parks and Recreation, I had an internship at Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona. It was an amazing experience! A couple of years later, I visited Chiricahua while driving to California. I went hiking on my favorite trail in the park one morning. As I turned a corner along the trail, I saw this Turkey Vulture stretching its wings on a rock outcropping. I was convinced the bird would fly away when it saw me, but it just stayed there watching me with its wings spread out. I managed to dig out my old first-generation digital point-and-shoot camera (with minimal zoom capacity) from my backpack and got some pictures. The bird and I stood there watching each other for 10 minutes. Eventually, I packed up my camera and continued on my hike. The Turkey Vulture was still there when I left. It is still one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had while hiking. And for it to have happened at Chiricahua, a place that has held a special place in my heart since my internship, made it even more memorable.

Ruth Bueter, Staff, Himmelfarb

Watergate in Bloom by Nicole Gunawansa
Watergate in Bloom, by Nicole Gunawansa, Winner of 2024 Spring Flowers and Blossoms Photo Contest

Himmelfarb Library would like to congratulate Nicole Gunawansa, MPH, the 2024 Spring Flowers & Blossoms Photo Contest winner! Himmelfarb's Healthy Living Committee had their work cut out for them by judging the many excellent entries to this year's contest. With so many fantastic submissions, it was extremely challenging to select a winning photo. Nicole, a graduating fourth year medical student, stopped by Himmelfarb last week to receive congratulations from members of Himmelfarb's Healthy Living Committee, and to pick up her prize -- a coffee mug showcasing her winning photo.

Members of Healthy Living Committee with photo contest winner Nicole Gunawansa

Left to right, Laura Abate, Valerie Bowles, Nicole Gunawansa, Deborah Wassertzug.

Let's get to know Nicole!

Can you share your journey to GW? What led you to pursue an MPH in addition to an MD?

It has actually been a while since my journey at GW started. I graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2014, moved to Japan for a fellowship program where I did research in Sendai (the area affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami) for about 1.5 years, then came back to the States to work for a bit as a medical scribe because I wanted to make sure that applying to medical school was the right fit for me. Overall, I took 4 years off before coming into medical school in 2018. Actually, I was recommended to apply to GW by a professor from college, because of the focus on public health and advocacy! I had done work with AmeriCorps and had also worked with a 501c3 non-profit in college that focused on addressing food deserts, so going to a medical school that focused on public health was a good match for me.

Honestly, I was on the fence about the MPH at the start of medical school, because it is already such a long journey and because I had taken so much time off before school. However, being a part of the class of 3rd years who got thrown into the hospital/clinic right as COVID was starting in 2020 was what made me ultimately decide to take time off after clerkships to pursue the MPH. Doing rotations during the height of the pandemic made the gaps in our healthcare system glaringly apparent and kind of made me doubt if you can truly be a good doctor within a broken system.

In the end, I did the MPH because I wanted to explore the world of public health and its interaction with medicine, and also because I really needed some time to do some soul searching about what I saw myself doing in the future within the medical field. I am so happy and grateful that I did end up doing the MPH and taking a little extra time off in medical school to figure out what I wanted, because it ultimately led me to the decision to pursue family medicine, and I have found an amazing community of passionate doctors with similar goals about mitigating health disparities within this space. 

How long have you been taking photographs, and what are your favorite subjects?

I have always enjoyed photography, especially of natural landscapes. I remember getting my first camera in high school, before I went on a school trip to Italy and Greece. I don't think I am a pro at all though; very much an amateur photographer who has never taken a photography class but has always wanted to. My favorite subjects are flowers (nature) and animals! I have been told I take pretty good pet photos.

How did you hear about the Spring Flowers & Blossoms Photo Contest?

I found out about it through an email that was sent out to the student body, and thought it would be fun to enter given that I already take so many pictures of flowers and greenery. 

You'll be graduating and heading off for residency soon! Where are you headed and what is your specialty?

I am going to be going back home to the Tidewater area of Virginia. Specifically, to Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA for Family Medicine Residency! Thinking about FMOB or possibly a palliative medicine fellowship in the future.

With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing "Bellevue Literary Review"

Perhaps you’ve perused the humanities collection and noticed a small shelf with bound journals. A curiosity - especially since the library no longer retains physical journals. If you picked up one of these volumes, you’d be looking at the Bellevue Literary Review: a highly respected, prize winning literary journal (Duotrope, an online compendium of literary magazines, lists their acceptance rate at 1.51%). More importantly, you’d be looking at one of the premiere literary journals founded in the medical field, specifically in the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, making it rather unusual (most university-related journals are centered in literature or creative writing departments). 

During April’s poetry month, we discussed possible publication venues for the literary among us, including Bellevue. April might be over, but the art of writing is year long. Despite its potentially intimidating stature, as a health sciences student (who writes), you’re exactly situated to submit. 

On Bellevue’s submissions page, they define the kind of writing they’re looking for: 

Bellevue Literary Review seeks high-caliber, unpublished work, broadly and creatively related to our themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. We encourage you to read BLR before you submit.

(Bellevue Literary Review, 2024)

Note that last sentence. Almost every literary magazine will encourage you to read before submitting, but many higher-end magazines do not publish online (or only publish small excerpts). Himmelfarb’s copies of Bellevue provide a nice chance to peruse without having to subscribe, which helps clarify what the publisher actually wants. For example, Bellevue values “character-driven fiction with original voices and strong settings” (Bellevue Literary Review, 2024), but publishers can interpret something like “strong settings” many different ways. Reading, therefore, truly does increase your odds of acceptance. 

That being said, the journal isn’t just for writers. It also provides a nice reading break for the non-writers at Himmelfarb. 

In this digital world, we have endless options to eject us from our current moment or task, but many of these provide more stimulation than reset. Fiction lets us get out of our own heads for a bit, while expanding our imaginative and empathetic capacities, if we let it. And refreshingly, short stories are finish-able within a single sitting, unlike many of the books in the Humanities collection. 

So if you have a moment, check out Bellevue Literary Review or ask the folks at the circulation desk for help finding them!

References:

Bellevue Literary Review. (2024). Submissions. https://blreview.org/submit/.

Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb

May 2024 Study Break Guide with a photo of a cute chihuahua

International City Food Festival
Date: Fri, May 3, 2024. 4:00 PM–9:00 PM. / Sat, May 4, 2024. 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Location: The Square. 1850 K St, NW.
Cost: FREE!

Join Events DC for a weekend filled with celebrations built on food that brings us together. Featuring international performances, food, and crafts presented by vendors from around the world, the International City Food Festival offers an opportunity to journey across the globe and celebrate diverse cultures within the heart of DC.

Running of the Chihuahuas
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024. 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: District Pier. 760 Maine Ave, SW.
Cost: FREE! No registration required

It’s time for Little Dogs, Big Fun! This free event features the iconic Chihuahua races, an adoptable pet parade, all-breed dog costume contest, and more! The highlight of the afternoon features over 150 Chihuahuas racing in groups of eight on a sixty-foot racetrack. All the action is captured on a huge video screen and the winners take home pet-friendly gifts, prizes, and more! All race proceeds benefit Rural Dog Rescue – a non-profit organization dedicated to pulling dogs from high-kill rural shelters.

Market SW + Farmers Market SW
Date: Alternate Fridays starting May 10, 2024. 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Southwest Lot, corner of 4th & M St, SW.
Cost: FREE!

Southwest DC's eclectic Friday night market returns with a diverse mix of art, crafts, handmade jewelry, accessories, bath and beauty goods, and vintage and antique furnishings. On stage, local musicians and DJs will curate a mix of live music for your fun and enjoyment. Specialty food businesses and select food trucks add to the programming mix. Don’t miss the Farmers Market every Saturday from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM throughout the 2024 market season for healthy fresh produce and foods from local farmers and producers.

EU Open House
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024. 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: 23 Embassies throughout DC (see Special Google Map)
Cost: FREE! No registration, tickets, or passport required!

The European Union and its embassies will open their doors to the public for a day of culture, food, music, and more so that Americans can catch a glimpse of the European cultures that make up the European Union. This event falls every year on the first Saturday after Europe Day on May 9. This date marks the signing of the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950, which established the European Coal and Steel Community, a multinational entity that would eventually become the European Union. Normally you have to cross the Atlantic to visit the EU, but at Open House, you just have to cross the street!

National Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 27, 2024. 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Constitution Ave, NW, between 7th & 17th Streets
Cost: FREE!

Join the Memorial Day celebration to honor the service and sacrifice of generations of American veterans. Attend the DC parade in person or watch on television. The event is a magnificent salute to America's Veterans and in honor of those who died in defense of our country.

Jazz in the Garden (Summer concert series)
Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
Date: Friday, May 31, 2024. 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Sculpture Garden. 7th St & Constitution Ave, NW.
Cost: FREE! Registration required through a lottery. Opens May 20, 2024 at 10:00 AM-Friday May 24, 2024 at Noon.

DC’s favorite summer concert series returns from May 31 - August 9 (except July 5) with a variety of musical performances including jazz, Latin fusion, zydeco, and more. On May 31, get ready for the fast and furious accordion-driven dance music of 2023 Grammy nominees Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas. Zydeco flows in the veins of these South Louisiana musicians with deep roots in Creole tradition, shown in their trademark rubboard percussion, electric guitars, and R&B soul.

Attendance will be through a lottery. All entrants whether or not they were selected will be notified the Monday before each concert. Those who are selected can register for up to four passes.

Image source: Pexels