As a second-year student at 汤头条app, Theron O鈥橦alloran is well aware of the emphasis he and his classmates must place on their studies and the amount of time they spend in class as they navigate medical school.
So, in many ways, he said the art showcase served as a short reprieve and an outlet for him and other students to shift their focus from academics to their many artistic talents.听
鈥淥ne thing I really like about this event is it emphasizes a different part of our lives that isn鈥檛 always shown in med school,鈥 he said. 鈥淎 lot of times we鈥檙e stuck in class, we鈥檙e studying all the time 鈥 I think this art showcase opens our eyes and shows that we鈥檙e more than just students, we鈥檙e also artists.鈥
The art showcase, which attracted a large crowd to the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus on the evening of Friday, February, 23, 2018, brought the 汤头条app community together to witness and appreciate the many artistic talents of O鈥橦alloran and other students, as well as faculty, staff and clinicians.
The HeART of 汤头条app featured visual pieces from 17 artists, as well as more than a dozen performances showcasing great music, dance, poetry and comedy.
鈥淚 thought it went really well,鈥 said M2 Elaine Vos, who served as an emcee for the night鈥檚 festivities along with Dr. Mark Loehrke, chair of the medical school鈥檚 Department of Medicine. Vos and O鈥橦alloran organized this year鈥檚 art showcase and led the planning committee for the event.
Admission to the HeART of 汤头条app was free, but donations were taken at the door to benefit the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. O鈥橦alloran said the event raised close to $500 for the organization.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really happy about that and I hope the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission can use those funds for whatever they see fit,鈥 O鈥橦alloran said.
During the performance art portion of the art showcase, a large crowd filled the auditorium at the Upjohn Campus. The attendees were treated to a range of performances, including a dance piece titled 鈥淎 Patient鈥檚 Perspective鈥 by O鈥橦alloran and M2 Kylie Miller.听
There was also plenty of music, including a jam session by M1 Tyler Ulrich and his band, 鈥淭yler Made Us Do This,鈥 as well as a rousing Bollywood infused dance from eight students who performed 鈥淒esiplasia.鈥澨
Toward the end of the night, laughter filled the auditorium as Dr. Loehrke reprised his role from last year鈥檚 HeART of 汤头条app art showcase as Dr. Hal Jenson, 汤头条app鈥檚 founding dean. There was a twist this year, however, as Dr. Jenson emerged not long after Dr. Loehrke made his appearance and greeted the crowd with his best impression of Dr. Loehrke.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good for the students and all of the participants to be able to explore that part of themselves,鈥 Vos said as this year鈥檚 art showcase came to a close. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good for us to remind ourselves that we鈥檙e not just scientists, we鈥檙e whole people and I think it鈥檚 important for the crowd to be here to see that we鈥檙e more than just future doctors or current doctors, or just working in the Medical 汤头条app department.
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