Several days ago, I had a meeting that could change the course of my life over the next year.  As some of you may know, last summer, I spent several months in refugee camps in refugee camps in Zambia gathering documentary footage of refugee stories.  Last Tuesday, I met with one of my colleagues from last summer, as well as the director of the African Studies Center.  These individuals are collaborating to develop this idea into curriculum to be utilized across the University of California campuses (which would hopefully make my multimedia refugee’s course a sustainable endeavor)  … and they expressed that they would like me to join them on their shoot.

Ordinarily, I would not have a moment’s hesitation faced with such an opportunity; however, the shoot schedule, which begins immediately after my summer program ends, coincides directly with the beginning of medical school in August.  Thus, participation in this project would require that I defer medical school for one year (which Mount Sinai fortunately allows Humanities and Medicine students to do.)   On one hand, I would absolutely relish to opportunity to continue the work I began last year, to carry this project to fruition, and to have the chance to return to follow up with the individuals I met in the camps.  

I believe that films and other media have the power to influence peoples’ actions, and eventually shape the very circumstances they seek to portray.  Art, especially films of the documentary persuasion, serve as a looking-glass of sorts into the lives of others, helping us to identify with their pain and triumphs, and begin to wrestle with the chasm between our common humanity and starkly contrasting conditions. (For an interesting read on the intersection between art and human rights, check out Lynn Hunt’s book The Origin of Human Rights, which explores the link between epistological novels, and the origin of the term droits de l’ homme, literally “rights of man,” in 18th century France).  In a similar vain, UCLA currently has an exhibition entitled “Make Art: Stop AIDS,” which showcases pieces that have dual artistic/activist roles.  In an epidemic where education is the key to prevention, perhaps art can play a significant role in disseminating information.

At the same time, there is no match for medicine in terms of making a tangible, highly personal, and much-needed contribution.  While the media may transform circumstances over the long-run, medicine has the power to save an individual or a family’s life today, and also bestows upon the practitioner the unique privilege of interacting personally and powerfully with each person they aim to serve.

If I become a doctor, there may be no harm in taking off a year before medical school to pursue this macro-level approach to solving the health and other crises facing refugees.  However, medical school and residency combined are a long road, and I wonder whether I want to delay this process.  

I have numerous questions:  would a year of my life be better spent seeking to effect larger-scale change through artistic/less-direct means, or treating individual patients with medical training under my belt? Does it mean as much to document someone’s story as it does to work to prevent malaria?  Does “raising awareness” truly attain the results it pursues?  Most importantly, which career would enable me to make the most meaningful and lasting contribution?  

And, is it necessary to choose?