Where Art and Medicine collide

This was one of the most touching collaborative works I have ever done as an artist.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was approached by a family friend, familiar with my work as a dancer, to be a part of a global initiative to raise money for a rural hospital in Nepal. Under the organization of Ek Ek Paila, a prominent Nepali philanthropic organization, several artists would come together for a virtual fundraiser.

At a time when the world was operating remotely, and in-person human interaction felt like a distant dream, an opportunity to dance and perform felt like a long-awaited life line. As a medical student, I was in survival mode...survive my exams, survive my clinical shifts, survive the isolation, and await a day when things would be back to normal.

This mentality was in contrast to how I really want to live. As artists, we want to present, emotive, reflective, and participate in the creation of something beautiful every day.. even if from the security of our own practice studios. But without performance, it is difficult to muster the enthusiasm to create and practice. After all what is an artist without an audience.

Then came "An Open Heart Heals", a fitting event name that applied to both artist and audience. I wanted to present a high production quality video and with

the help of my attending physician- dance videographer and fellow art enthusiast- we created a video to be shared during the event. It was the ultimate collaboration, at a time when we were socially distanced and emotionally disconnected, I was given the opportunity to create an artistic memory with a fellow medical professional and share it with a community of philanthropists building a hospital in a rural community 10,000 miles from my home. The depth of this endeavor, my luck in being a part of it, the impact of our efforts keeps me humble and grateful.

As an artist and future doctor I find myself looking for soulful experiences, but despite my best efforts I cannot find a perfect algorithm for creating them. Often they come when I least expect it, like during one of the worst global health crises of our generation, but I find they always come when I most need them. A pure and authentic intention provides the best kindling. The lesson learned: we cannot wait to pursue our art in hopes that a perfect time and place will reveal itself, the opportunity to share this art form can come in various ways, and it is up to us to seize it. Let the drive for a soulful experience be your motivation.