Assignments.... science vs. arts!

At the beginning of the year, I remember laughing with my flatmates how great it is that we don't get as many essays compared to other subjects. One of my flatmates who does biology is always complaining about another essay or report she has to do.

But, we were set an awful essay on discussing *something* and its impact on human health and wellbeing. The *something* had to be appropriate and from a certain list we were given (ie. diet, exercise, loneliness etc). I decided to do how owning a dog affects human health and wellbeing, which I thought initially would be very interesting. Was it? Of course not. For every paper that said owning a dog lowers your blood pressure, there was a study that proved that wasn't the case.

My essay based on the impact of owning a dog on human health and wellbeing. One of the hardest parts of writing this essay was actually trying to reference using the Vancouver method as opposed to Harvard, which is what I'm used to!

It was very complicated and repetitive, but I ploughed through. I lost out on a really good night, but I guess it was my fault for leaving it until the week it was due. Literature reviews and breaking down medical scientific journals is a talent that I really don't think I have compared to my friends.

My uni though is trying to promote this concept of medicine being both an art and a science. Therefore, we have also been set an art assignment. We have to base this on a clinical encounter that we have had or observed.

I have decided to create a reflective piece based on a patient that I met whilst doing a home visit in my GP placement. She has polycystic kidney disease, and her poor kidney function led to her having a kidney transplant. I was very shocked to learn that unless cancerous or posting a serious threat to life, they keep the kidneys inside you! I always thought they removed it during a transplant, but no!

The patient told me about how she believes it's the medication that is keeping her going. So I have based my art project solely on the amazing concept of a renal transplant, but also the dependence on medication to stay alive.

The plan for my art piece: an anatomical representation of the abdomen with the transplanted kidney (from the posterior abdominal muscles, to the bladder, major blood vessels, two PKD-affected kidneys, a transplanted kidney, to the liver, the stomach and the spleen). This will be moulded out of clay, dried over the holiday and fired in a kiln in the final week and ready for the deadline of the 20th April. Surrounding my clay piece will be the tablets a renal patient will be taking to prevent rejection or any infection post-operation. I have researched these drugs online, and through the use of NHS renal transplant information leaflets which are given to patients before or after their transplant operation.

The beginning base for my anatomical representation of the abdomen, crafted out of clay. On the paper is my rough plan of how I plan to lay out the structures.

I will keep you updated on how this turns out!