Usman Khan, MD2019
For me, photography started out a bit unusually. It was a couple of years ago when I was walking the streets of New York and I saw an avid photographer taking pictures very carefully of what seemed to me, random streets and buildings. But for some reason, I wanted to see what he saw. I thought maybe looking through a camera lens would change my perspective. And for me that was it. I felt the world around me come to life. The world had physically changed. Over the past few years, photography has helped me to see. It has allowed me to appreciate the complexities and the intricate details of life. For me, taking a photograph has become an intimate experience, just like a conversation with a patient. Most patient interactions involve the use of all of our senses, including sight. I believe paying attention to the patient’s body language, facial expressions, and environment can help to understand their emotions. And as one becomes aware of such subtleties, it can allow for empathetic and sensitive responses. I also think that careful observation can ultimately manifest into holistic medical care as one starts to understand at a deeper level. I believe photography still has many more lessons to teach me that are relevant to medicine. For now though, I try my best to listen with my eyes as well.
