Medicine And The Arts Arrive In Tokyo (Mori Museum, Roppongi)

Those of you that know me, will know about my long-standing obsession with the relationship between medicine and the arts. It's based on my belief that medicine is both a science and an art. My training in aesthetic surgery accentuated this realtionship for me.

I am so inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci because he demonstrated this relationship time and time again in his fascinating career as an anatomist, politician, sculptor, painter, athlete and architect. He holds a special place in my heart and that is why this blog is named after him.

I also enjoy art by Damien Hirst, Dr Von Hagen, Klimt, Tracey Emin and Andy Warhol. Most people have an almost oxymoronic relationship with their bodies in that they are the thing they know the best AND the least at the same time. These artists tackle this relationship.

Both Leonadro Da Vinci and Damien Hirst (What a genius!) feature highly in this exhibition. And I will be giving a lecture in English titled 'Medicine And The Art's: a doctors perspective'one of countless talks and seminars I have given on the subject.

The Flying Doctors office in Lagos, Nigeria doubles as a spa/aesthetic surgery clinic, designed completely by me to illustrate how important I think art is in medicine.

The Flying Doctors as you know runs as a social enterprise and are very involved in the worldwide social enterprise movement, particulary in the UK and India. I was on the social enterprise UK website today when I can across a gentleman called Sam Everington. He is a very sucessful friend and ambassador of social enterprise UK, he has been instrumental in the improvement of the standard of care received in East London through the Bromley By Bow centre.It serves thousands of people in East London with more than 100 community projects, a GP practice and social enterprises providing everything from landscape gardening to leadership classes.

Rather interestingly, he is a pilot, a doctor and a social entrepeneur who's waiting room doubles as an art gallery. Remind you of anybody???

Winch Training: Facing Your Fears

Today I had lunch in Tokyo with an important Nigerian politician. It was in a very posh resturant in one of the most expensive areas in Tokyo(Known as the Roppongi Hills).

The resturant was in an observatory on the 17th floor of the building. As I took my time to enjoy the breath-taking view of Tokyo below, I recalled a time when I could'nt have even glanced out of the window without being sick and suffering from vertigo.

My fear of heights, for years, stopped me from enjoying so many opportunities. Even in England when I went up in the medical helicopter I could never look down.

However, when I started my training as a pilot I had to face this fear head on. As I developed my portfolio of aviation skills and knowledge I realised that in Lagos there would be many times when I would have to use a winch.

A winch is a machine which is used to lift heavy objects or people who need to be rescued. It consists of a drum around which a rope or chain is wound.If you winch an object or person somewhere, you lift or lower them using a winch.

I had seen them used before by never used one myself. So I would have to undergo three weeks of winch training and experience being suspended in mid-air from a helicopter.

It took my completely out of my comfort zone and I almost backed out the night before. But my determination got the better of me.

Three weeks later, I was fully winch trained and no longer afraid of heights.

So this afternoon I could enjoy the breathtaking view of one of my favourite cities in the world for the first time.

Lesson Learnt: Step out of your comfort zone, face your fears!!