Dr. Nakayama was recently published in The Pharos, Spring 2018 with his article “The Sick Child. Artistic perceptions of mortal illness in children.”
Don K. Nakayama, MD, MBA (AΩA, University of California, San Francisco, 1977) is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. During his recent interview, Dr. Nakayama mentioned his abiding interest in surgical history, “It’s a unique academic niche. I think there are different ways people can contribute to the literature of medicine. Mine just happens to be finding interesting stories about surgeons and people in the past that illustrate the richness of our field. There is a side to it that illustrates doctors’ humanity and important lessons about illness and disease.”
In his recent article “The Sick Child. Artistic perceptions of mortal illness in children,” Dr. Nakayama dissects the artwork of 15th and 16th century Northern Europe Renaissance painters who explored the theme of illness and death of children through their work. This article focuses on the works of art specifically titled “The Sick Child”, powerful paintings that depict the heartwrenching loss of a child to illness. A fascinating article that discusses the artists work and their rendering of parents struggling with the grief of having a child who is fighting to live but it also touches upon the artist’s portrayal of a doctor struggling to save that sick child. Read the full article by clicking here.