OUT OF FOCUS | Edith Ben-Eboh

“This piece explores the tension between clinical structure and the complexity of patients’ lives beyond it. The central composition reflects the order and precision of the operating room, with clean lines, in black and white, and a focus on task and performance. In contrast, the patient’s world exists at a distance, rendered in color and less defined forms, representing the relationships and identities that shape their life outside of care. This separation reflects how easily a patient’s broader context can fall out of focus, even though it is often the most important thing. Not due to a lack of care, but because of the realities of medical training and practice, this work is an attempt to pause, acknowledge that tension, and re-center the patient.”

Edith Ben-Eboh is a third-year medical student at the Geisel School of Medicine who engages in art as a form of reflection and creative expression. Although art has long been a personal interest, Ben-Eboh began more intentionally integrating it into her life just prior to medical school as a way to explore the intersection between creativity and medicine. Her works often center on the human experience within healthcare, using visual storytelling to process moments that are complex, challenging or easily overlooked. Through art, she reflects on what it means to become a physician and considers how to show up more thoughtfully for future patients. She also hopes her work can spark conversations about care, perspective and the kind of doctor she strives to be.