Med school: Putting your he[art] into it

Blog Author: Tara Lyon

Many people may make the assumption that med school students are science-minded, analytical, and not inclined toward artistic pursuits. But Carol-Ann Courneya, an associate professor at the UBC School of Medicine, could tell you differently.

In 2000, Carol-Ann came up with the idea to hold a photography contest for first-year medical students called Heartfelt Images, challenging fledgling physicians to conceptualize the cardiovascular system through photos.

The submissions she received were astonishing in their beauty and creativity. Inspired, Carol-Ann sent one of the entries--a black and white macro shot of a Littman Stethoscope bell--to Littman (3M Canada). The company subsequently offered to sponsor the contest and provide winners with Littman Cardiology Stethoscopes, an endorsement that helped to transition the contest into a yearly event.

The contest has since grown to encompass submissions from all forms of artistic media, including paintings, sketches, sculptures/installations, music, and music videos. Interest in the contest has also grown exponentially: from an initial 45 entries in 2000 to over 150 submissions annually.

Some contest entries have won attention and acclaim beyond the Heartfelt Images contest. Peace of Heart, by Cyrus McEachern, is a photograph of Eva Markvroot, a cystic fibrosis patient who passed away in 2010. Eva selected Cyrus’s photo as the identifying image for her blog, 65 Red Roses, a forum she used to spread awareness about cystic fibrosis and lung transplantation.

Peace of Heart, by Cyrus McEachern

Atrial Flutter, which earned Alexandra Otto first place in the Other Media category in 2009, was chosen for the cover of the inaugural issue of the UBC Medical Journal.

Atrial Flutter, by Alexandra Otto

In 2011, Michiko Maruyama’s painting Spirit of the Heart caught the eye of international Haida artist Clarence Mills, who took her on as his apprentice that summer. Michiko went on to produce a limited edition run of prints for sale, donating several to medical charities.

Spirit of the Heart, by Michiko Maruyama

Students have a 3-week-long contest period to submit their art, which will then be judged by a panel of UBC medical faculty, staff, and cardiologists. This year’s contest will run from 6 February until 4 March, with the winner announced at a ceremony on the final day of the Cardiology Block; Friday, 9 March. The BCMJ will tweet the contest results, including a link to the winning entries for 2012. Best of luck to all participants!