ABOUT THE IDSA FOUNDATION

Founded in 2002, the IDSA Foundation is the charitable arm of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The Foundation is committed to providing career development opportunities, supporting education and funding groundbreaking research in infectious diseases. Through its work, the Foundation invests in the next generation of diverse ID leaders and promotes advancements in patient care.

For more information, visit idsafoundation.org

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Ana Velez, MD, FACP

My family tried to divert my interest from art to a more traditional career to ensure I had the economic resources to survive in Colombia. Finally, after my perseverance, my parents enrolled me in a local art academy, Academia de Arte de Antonio Herrera. I started my first art class (oil painting) at 13. I was very disciplined and would attend the classes four times a week for about two to three hours.

I was born in Medellín, Colombia. I started drawing when I was able to hold a pen. I have always been fascinated with the human figure, particularly the face, the colors and the light. I remember having difficulties at school because I was sitting in the back of the classroom, always daydreaming with my mind focused on my drawing and the beautiful natural view of the window rather than the class. 

After I started medical school, it became more complicated to find time for art classes, and, finally, I stopped my formal guided art studies when I was 20 years old. While in medical school, my time was limited to continue dedicated painting, but my artistic mind never stopped collecting new ideas and information. I soon realized that my learning process and how I saw life differed significantly from the rest of my medical school colleagues. I learned the complexity of the brain, primarily how we collect and communicate information. This is especially true for the artistic brain. Frequently, we find that the traditional methods impede new innovative and creative learning methods.

Following a successful career in medical school and at the University of South Florida, I tried to communicate different medical concepts, including art and medicine, more visually to students. I firmly believe that science and art are complementary and need to blend.

For more about the artist and her available art, visit Galen Artist

All proceeds from the art auction will support the IDSA Foundation.

The Stormy Fusarium