When Thitinart Sithisarn, MD, PhD, is not taking care of babies in Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH) or teaching future physicians at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, she can be found out in nature hiking, canoeing, or walking trails across the Commonwealth.
And she always has her camera in hand.
Dr. Sithisarn, a KCH physician, had an interest in photography at a young age. She found it similar to medicine, a combination of art and science that allowed her to seize the moment.
When she got to high school, and later medical school, she noticed very few women in photography clubs, which made her hesitant to join. But during residency training, thanks to her neonatology mentor who was an avid photographer, she gained the motivation to pursue what she loved.
Today, she spends some of her free time taking photographs, whether she is exploring Kentucky, on vacation outside the state, or even in her own backyard.
Dr. Sithisarn recently gifted KCH visitors the same views she enjoys. She donated some of her photographs to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The pictures now hang in the hallways, showcasing Kentucky’s beauty to her colleagues, patients, and their families.
“I am happy that besides working here taking care of tiny ones, I was able to contribute as a small part of this big project,” she said. “Perhaps the photos can give both our crew and the families some sense of comfort in the NICU where stressful things occur often.”
Dr. Sithisarn said photography benefits her own well-being, too. She maintains a multifaceted role as a physician, researcher, associate professor of pediatrics, and the UK Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship program director at the UK College of Medicine. Amid her hectic schedule, photography gives her the chance to slow down.
She added that it also gives her new perspective, connects her to others with similar interests, and allows her to keep learning.
“We talk a lot about wellness these days, and for me, I think photography is a good hobby that I can pretty much practice and enjoy every day,” she said, “to focus on what’s in front of me and think about nothing else, even for a brief moment.”
Scroll the gallery below to see some of the photos Dr. Sithisarn donated to KCH.
