UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology APRIL 2023 - Flipbook - Page 4
Chairman’s
Letter
Dear All,
This issue of the UCLA Radiation Oncology Journal features on its cover and
within its pages the provocative artistic expressions of Katasi Kulybya. Her
art provokes conflicting emotions and elicits pre-biases related to our human
requisite to belong–– to “fit in.” The images challenge us to question what fits
and what doesn’t. And ultimately, shouldn’t we all feel we belong?
And as in issues before, the Journal presents the case for how art and aesthetics
inform our science and even our delivery of care. Within these pages you will
find the thought-provoking artful science of the novel Mirage Trial with its
ground breaking clinical findings, as well as the poetry of Kaminsky and Farris
“asking hard questions” through “verbal imagery,” informing not only how we
understand a couple traversing the white water of their cancer journey, but also
our own experiences in engaging in hard conversations with “hard questions”
about equity in healthcare and in our workplace.
And once again, Matt Farrell MD, MFA, PGY 4, takes our breath away as we
republished his Journal of Clinical Oncology narrative about his family, who,
while dealing with the devastation of terminal disease, expose the humanity and
grace that so often emerges in challenging times. I should point out that the
portrait, Bohemian, that faces Farrell’s narrative in the Journal was created by
our department’s very own Carol “Care” Felix. And as if that wasn’t enough, why
not climb Mt. Everest for good measure? The exploits of Melissa Alspaugh, a
Radiation Therapist in Westwood, and her “Journey to Nepal” amaze.
I hope we all can remain amazed every single day.
Be well and stay safe,
Michael Steinberg, M.D.
Professor and Chair
@MSteinbergMD