OFF HOURS: Ara Sadaniantz, M.D. - cardiologist, poet

Literature and medicine both speak of the human condition, but for some people the two overlap. The poet John Keats was a surgeon's apprentice who gave up medical studies for poetry. Writer James Joyce also studied medicine.

Late at night when his family is asleep, before dawn, or on the drive home from The Miriam Hospital, cardiologist Ara Sadaniantz, M.D. composes his poems about matters of the heart.

"As physicians, we observe so much of life, from the physiological to the psychological to the sociological," says Sadaniantz, associate professor of medicine in the School of Medicine. "Poetry is my way of expressing myself."

Sadaniantz's work in noninvasive cardiology involves diagnostics and therapeutics, imaging, echocardiograms and EKGs. After a day of seeing people and poring over medical test results, he turns to poetry to express his view of that world to others.

He writes about 130 poems a year, some in layman's terms; others in medical lingo. All of them interweave physical, spiritual and emotional issues. "With medical poems, I can be less emotional, and it's a way to help students to learn about medical conditions."

Expressing his observations through poetry, then seeing the work in print is especially satisfying for Sadaniantz, given that English is his fourth language. His first is Armenian.

"At age 17, my greatest challenge was to learn to speak English," he says. "Now, the challenge is to write poems in English. To do so is very gratifying."

Fascinated with poetry since childhood, Sadaniantz says his writing became more active about five years ago. So far, his work has appeared in general and trade publications, including medical periodicals.

Last month, Sadaniantz was named poetry editor for two journals: Cardiovascular Reviews & Reports and the American Journal of Medicine & Sports. Both have published his work in the past, and he will continue to submit poems, and now will receive and screen the submissions of others as well.

Occasionally, Sadaniantz and his family escape to a cottage in New Hampshire, where he also writes.

"My wife says that I have much to say and that is why I write. In fact, she thinks I have lots and lots to say," he says with a chuckle. - Scott J. Turner

Gratitudes

The return of health
After a wretched illness
Always responded with gratitude
And it's refreshing
As morning's fresh snow
On long pines and boulders
That's for fortnight
Been shivering gray and dark.

It is the long stretch of
Undisturbed robust health
That rarely receives
A heart warming welcome
On each of its glorious days.

- Ara Sadaniantz

Reproduced with permission of Le Jacq Communications. The poem will be published in Cardiovascular Reviews & Reports, 2000;21(4):XX.

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