Contract, pump, relax, fill. The heart takes blood in, then pumps it back out through the body, with life in each heartbeat.
Joseph Gascho notices these patterns in his work as a cardiologist at Penn State University鈥檚 Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center. He also notices them in his , weaving the two fields together seamlessly.
鈥淭here is a medical term called diastole,鈥� Gascho said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the phase of a heart cycle when the heart relaxes and blood is coming in. It鈥檚 a metaphor for me of what we take in, and it鈥檚 really important what we take in, because that then determines what goes out.鈥�
Two of Gascho鈥檚 primary outlets include poetry and photography, including a photo collection he titled 鈥淒iastole.鈥� Other works include the photo series 鈥淔lowers,鈥� 鈥淟eaves,鈥� and 鈥淪ky,鈥� as well as a collection of echocardiogram-inspired poetry titled 鈥淓cho Poems鈥� and a 2014 .
Gascho will share from his work at two events during 草莓社区鈥檚 Oct. 9-10. The first will be a gallery showing and poetry recital at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, followed by musical guests in the University Commons鈥� Common Grounds coffeehouse. The second will be a more medically oriented presentation at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in Science Center 106.
‘Ears and eyes open’
In both presentations, Gascho will share how he tries to open people to new perspectives.
鈥淭o me, seeing is a really, really big thing,鈥� Gascho says. 鈥淥ne of my favorite biblical passages is the Emmaus Road story, where the disciples鈥� eyes are opened with the breaking of bread. As a physician, I try to have my ears and my eyes open not just for physical signs or for abnormal sounds from the stethoscope but also trying to take in something about the patient, what makes the patient tick.
鈥淪o what I hope for in my art is that people would see things in different ways鈥攖o see a patient differently or understand something about themselves, about medicine, healing, et cetera, in a different way. When we see things in a different way, it鈥檚 kind of an 鈥榓-ha鈥� moment, an epiphany, and we can do things differently. We tend to make the most changes when we have those moments. That鈥檚 what I hope a photograph or a poem can be.鈥�
One of Gascho鈥檚 projects鈥攐n permanent display at Hershey鈥攊s titled 鈥淧atient Portraits,鈥� a series of 50 patient photographs that contain abbreviated, cryptic notes about the patients鈥� medical conditions but also show their humanity. Most of them are long-time patients, and Gascho says they have been glad to assist.
鈥淣inety-five percent are delighted to have their pictures taken,鈥� he says. 鈥淢y point is to show they are more than just patients; they鈥檙e people, as well.鈥�
Promoting a holistic approach to medicine
Gascho says that ethos is embedded in the work of Hershey Medical Center. While he is a professor of medicine and teaches about cardiology, he also teaches in the humanities and tries to introduce students to other aspects of medicine鈥攖he 鈥渘on-scientific but important side.鈥� He says that balance is a 鈥渞eal strength鈥� of Hershey, which was one of the first schools to advance that holistic approach.
Eastern Mennonite also provided some of the foundation for Gascho鈥檚 work. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School (EMHS) and later spent his senior year of college in Harrisonburg following two years as a conscientious objector at Lankenau Hospital just outside of Philadelphia, where he took classes while serving as a medical research 鈥済uinea pig.鈥�
He mentions chemistry professor emeritus Glenn Kauffman as a particular influence, someone who knew and taught science well but also built his own harpsichord and appreciated music and art. Gascho鈥檚 parents, Alvin and Irene, also worked at EMU. His father, a former pastor, became a maintenance worker so his son could attend EMHS.
Gascho says he will likely share poems about his father during the Homecoming Weekend visit, along with medicine-themed poems, some of his 鈥淓cho Poems,鈥� and more鈥攅xpect 鈥渁 variety of things,鈥� he says.