Dancing closer to patients 

During my time on the medicine clerkship, I had the honor of taking care of Ms. M, a lovely elderly woman who was diagnosed with scleroderma. After rounds one day, we started talking and learned that both of us had a love for the arts. She was a painter while I was a dancer. We both had started at a young age and had our lives enriched by these beautiful, cathartic activities. However, Ms. M sadly shared with me that she hadn’t been able to paint for the past year due to her health condition. Luckily, although she was unable to paint, she was still able to draw. 

So began my search for some paper and pencils that Ms. M could use to draw while in the hospital. With the help of my med school classmates, we found some art supplies and Ms. M’s eyes lit up with joy.  

I related to Ms. M’s pain of having to spend time away from a passion. When pursuing my undergraduate studies, I was unable to dance as much as I would have liked to as it was a time of many transitions. When I started med school, however, I shared with my advisor how formative dance had been for me and how much I missed it. After that conversation, I realized that I had to start dancing right away; I knew life would only get busier.  

Scheduling is all about making time for what’s most important. As a result, I reached out to my longtime dance teacher and learned she’d started teaching on Zoom. Although my Baltimore rowhouse didn’t have much space to dance, I moved around some furniture and fashioned a dance floor. The type of dance I learn is called Bharatanatyam, which is a form of Indian classical dance. Not only is Bharatanatyam a way for me to express my emotions from the day via a healthy form of exercise, but it also brings me closer to my Indian culture.  

Soon after starting up dance lessons and learning a few new pieces, I heard from one of my advisors that our med school would be hosting its first annual Hopkins Evening of the Arts (HEARTS). Excited by the prospect of being able to share my passion with others, I signed up to perform.  

I reached out to some classmates who I knew were also passionate about this dance form to see if any of them would be interested in doing a group performance. They were! We choreographed all the moves ourselves and held practices between our classes. We also connected with the undergrad Bharatanatyam dance team to borrow dance costumes and jewelry. When the day for HEARTS arrived, it was a special day as, after many years, not only was I able to share the beauty of Bharatanatyam with my school community, but I was able to do it with my peers by my side.  

Similarly, sitting by Ms. M’s side as she held the paper and pencil, she said that she suddenly felt inspired to draw again and wanted to draw me. I felt so honored and readily accepted. After a few hours, she showed me the paper and it felt like I was looking in a mirror. On the page was an incredibly lifelike image of myself—wearing a stethoscope around my neck to boot! Ms. M said the drawing was for me and, after graciously thanking her, I immediately framed it. 

I feel so lucky that I rediscovered my love for dance and helped Ms. M to create art again. Strengthening my heart with the arts, I’ve been better able to connect with patients and highly encourage everyone to continue their passions. By being in tune with the aspects of life that make us whole, we are better able to give excellent care and create meaningful relationships with patients and colleagues.

Here’s a video of me performing one of my favorite dances: the Kalinganardhanam.

This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.