North Shore NewsAs we celebrate the Haleiwa Art Festival this month, Koolauloa Health Centers’ chief medical officer, Dr. Daniel Lum reminds us that “art and creativity are important to well-being.” Not only is being outdoors a stress reliever, focusing on art elements such as composition and lighting enhance mindfulness by forcing you to slow down and be in the present. As an avid landscape photographer Dr. Lum believes, “photography has given me an appreciation of the beauty of nature which has in turn given me an appreciation of the beauty of humans. I think that seeing beauty in each patient I touch has made me a better doctor. It also helps in times of stress such as dealing when with a very sick child, or when improving the quality of care at Ko’olauloa happens more slowly than I would like it to happen. If you’re fishing out past Mokuleia on a moonless night and you see someone with a camera and a tripod, say hello; it may well be me heading to Ka’ena Point to take pictures of the Milky Way.
While living in Hong Kong, KHC Nurse Practitioner Naty Hopewell studied under a well-known Chinese brush painter who used the Ling-nan method of painting to incorporate the impressionist style of painting with the Japanese and traditional style of Chinese Brush painting. Naty says that it may not seem that art can relate to being a Family Nurse Practitioner but “it uses another aspect of my brain. I think the creativity required in art helps me be a more creative health provider, keeps me grounded and prevents me from being overwhelmed in the care of my patients.”
At KHC you can count on care that sees the whole person. We always accept new patients.
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