Featured Artist – Tal Danino

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Dr. Tal Danino’s research explores the emerging intersection of biology and engineering. The interaction of microbes and tumors is a focus of his work, where synthetic biology techniques are used to program microbes for applications in cancer. Tal brings this science outside the laboratory as a TED Fellow and through bio-art works.

His art+outreach work can be seen at the Bernadaud Showroom in New York City and more information about his limited edition china can be found in this brochure or purchased here from Bernardaud or at the MoMA Design Store.

Dr. Danino did his postdoctoral research at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and is Director of the Synthetic Biological Systems Laboratory at Columbia University in the City of New York.

Hat tip to Columbia Society for Medical Humanities e-board member, Chris Coyne for sharing.

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Poems by William Carlos Williams

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williams

Below you can find some of the poems we will be examining tonight!

A Cold Front

This woman with a dead face
has seven foster children
and a new baby of her own in
spite of that. She want pills

for an abortion and says,
Uh hum, in reply to me while
her blanketed infant makes
unrelated grunts of salutation.

She looks at me with her mouth
open and blinks her expressionless
carved eyes, like a cat
on a limb too tired to go higher

from its tormentors. And still
the baby chortles in its spit
and there is a dull flush
almost of beauty to the woman’s face

as she says, looking at me
quietly, I won’t have any more.
In a case like this I know
quick action is the main thing.

To Close

Will you please rush down and see
ma baby. You know, the one I talked
to you about last night

What was that?

Is this the baby specialist?

Yes, but perhaps you mean my son,
can’t you wait until   .   ?

I, I, I don’t think it’s brEAthin’

The Poor

By constantly tormenting them
with reminders of the lice in
their children’s hair, the
School Physician first
brought their hatred down on him.
But by this familiarity
they grew used to him, and so,
at last,
took him for their friend and adviser.

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Monday night 10/5!

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Hello friends!
 
A friendly reminder about our exciting event on Monday evening in Hamilton 602 at 7:30PM:
 

Dr. Matt McCarthy will be speaking with us. Dr. McCarthy is a physician and professor of medicine at Cornell. He is also a New York Time’s best-selling author. His new memoir, “The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly,” recounts the wild, stressful, and inspiring adventures he experienced during his internship. He will be discussing the applications process as well as how to manage the stresses involved with being a physician. 

 
If you can, check out the book — it’s fantastic, funny, intense and exciting. Even if you can’t read it by Monday, I recommend reading it for fun. You will not be disappointed!
 
We look forward to seeing you there!
 
CSMH
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Stephen Jay Gould on Scholarship

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Impartiality (even if desirable) is unattainable by human beings with inevitable backgrounds, needs, beliefs, and desires. It is dangerous for a scholar even to imagine that he might attain complete neutrality, for then one stops being vigilant about personal preferences and their influences – and then one truly falls victim to the dictates of prejudice.

From “The Mismeasure of Man”

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MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY!

Posted on by csmhcolumbia
Hello fellow medical humanitarians!
We are excited to see you this Monday the 21st at 8:10PM to discuss Oliver Sacks’ biography, “On the Move.” We will be holding the meeting in Lewisohn 212D.
Even if you haven’t finished or read the book, please come by — the conversation is open to all and I’m sure you’ll have no problem jumping right in. You can find a PDF of the text here:
We will also have pizza!
Looking forward to seeing you all there,
CSMH
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