SAN FRANCISCO — Discipline, creativity, and precision are essential traits for an artist. Interestingly, these same qualities are vital for a surgeon.
Dr. Don Hershman embodies both roles, making him uniquely qualified to speak on how these skills overlap.
“There’s a part of my brain that activates during both painting and surgery,” Hershman explains. “Facing a blank canvas can be daunting, much like starting a surgery. Both are adventures fueled by a unique creative energy. It’s an experience not many discuss because few are both surgeons and artists.”
As a board-certified surgeon and renowned artist based in San Francisco, Hershman’s paintings have been showcased in exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally. His diverse collections explore various themes, including the concept of code-switching. This involves changing language, tone, and behavior to suit different social settings.
“People adjust their language to fit in,” Hershman shares, reflecting on his personal experience as a gay man in medical school. “Back then, being openly gay was unacceptable, and you couldn’t complete surgical training if you were out. I didn’t feel victimized; it was just how things were.”
Hershman continues to excel in both fields, noting that each enhances his practice of the other.
“It doesnt matter whether a patient is a privileged patient or someone that is poor, discriminated against or marginalized. When they are in that chair, they are just a patient. Everybody is equal. Everything flattens right out. It gives you a bird’s-eye view of the world in that way.Healthcare, that’s the privilege of it, and it makes you more human. As an artist, it makes me a better artist,” Hershman said.
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