Showing our creative side
By: Lakshmi N Kurnutala M.D., M.Sc.
In this newer section of the newsletter, we are "showing our creative side" as part of the our wellness program. We encourage anesthesia faculty, CRNAs, residents, anesthesia technicians, and administrative staff to submit their artwork (paintings with descriptions), music interests (with narrative and photos), photography (with comments), poetry, or small narratives (less than one page).
We know that we have an excellent team to provide the best possible anesthesia care for patients in the state of Mississippi through UMMC. Anesthesia is our profession, but we want to share your passion for bringing a little joy and improving our wellness.
We are a great team as professionals, but our passion (art, music, dance, poetry, photography, etc.) sometimes needs to be more restrained/stopped because of our busy schedules. We want to show the world what we love other than providing the best patient care. As human beings, we don't need to give up one for another; balancing our professional and personal life is very important to improve our wellness.
Please continue to send your submissions to Dr. Sara Robertson or me. We look forward to getting many submissions from each of you!
Christiano Dos Santos E Santos, M.D.
Woodworking
Since I was a teenager, I have been interested in woodworking. The excuse for postponing it was lack of free time. I was always busy, with hundreds of things to be done. Then, Covid hit us. The world was upside down. Everything was closed. No places to go, no friends to meet, and even the restaurants closed their doors. As you might imagine what I am about to say … I became a woodworker during the pandemic. At that time, everything we had was free time and no place to go! I started with YouTube videos, a couple of books, and woodworking magazines. I did not imagine I would like it that much!
If you want to do the same thing one day, meet me at my garage/shop. But don’t forget to bring your mask. Not because of Covid … sawdust might irritate your airway. I am already waiting for you!
Benji Brown, CRNA
Music (guitar)
From a young age, I was surrounded by music. The inclination was ingrained early from my parents. My mom played the piano for the church I grew up in, and my father sang many solos, both at church and while transporting me to sporting practices or games. It’s been one way that I feel connected spiritually and in the presence of God. Many, many years ago while I was attending Hinds in Raymond, I started attending the Wednesday night youth and college service at Raymond Baptist Church. There was a need for a guitarist for their praise team. Even though I only knew a few chords, I joined “the band”. Who would have known that my future wife, Lauren, was singing on this praise band as well? Years later, we married and moved to Brandon. Again, the need for a guitarist arose at our current church, Park Place Baptist. This was quite a change going from “the band” to an orchestra in front of hundreds of people. One of the “full circle” moments occurred in 2021 when my oldest child, Addison, joined the youth praise team on Wednesday nights at church. Thankfully, she has her mom’s voice.
