Women's Health Wednesday: The Intersection of Medicine, Technology, and the Arts with Dr. Julia Gleize
“Medicine already exists at the intersection of art and science. The earliest doctors were philosophers, always asking why.” Today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Julia Gleize is a passionate doctor specializing in Integrative Medicine, and is on a mission to revolutionize healthcare through bridging together medicine, technology, and the arts. In addition to her healthcare career, she also reflects on her journey as an art consultant. She shares., “ My advice is to be honest with yourself about what is important to you and what truly brings you joy. Enjoy her story!
1. You are an integrative medicine specialist, with a mission to revolutionize health and wellbeing. Tell us more about your story and journey in healthcare?
I took the scenic route to Medicine. I was premed at Vanderbilt University but fell in love with Philosophy and Fine Arts, which at the time felt more relevant and like a better road to access truth than the sciences. After college, I studied Painting and Sculpture in Paris and London, and lived as an artist. Having always been fascinated by bodies and health, I then traveled the world for 3 years, researching and learning alternative modalities from various sages. Then I fell into writing for film, with some producing and acting as well. But my interest in health prevailed and I ultimately decided that it would be best served by attending medical school. I wanted all the knowledge! For residency, I chose Family Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Institute for Family Health, an FQHC, in New York, which permitted a holistic approach, then did a 2 year fellowship with Dr Andrew Weil, the famed pioneer of Integrative Medicine. Now I see patients in my mostly remote private practice which allows me to continue traveling the world and continually learn, bringing this richness to serve my patients.
2. You are focused on the interaction of medicine, technology, and the arts. Tell us more about this? Where do these fields overlap? What are some examples of how you integrate them in your work?
Medicine already exists at the intersection of art and science. The earliest doctors were philosophers, always asking why. Technology enables us to offload much of what is least interesting, most algorithmic, about medicine, to allow us to concentrate on its important human aspects. To do this right takes a savvy approach, as my work advising tech companies has shown. The arts are critical to educating both student doctors and patients - and “doctor” means teacher! I’m interested in how the arts can be used to change people’s minds, to see differently, in ways that will more benefit them and society as a whole. Technology makes the arts accessible to all, and art must inform technology to keep it from being shaped by our worst impulses.
3. You have worked as an artist and producer/writer in addition to your healthcare career, and also worked as a consultant for Sketchy. Tell us more about this? How did you manage to do both medicine and creative pursuits? And any advice to other women looking to do both as well?
My art consultant work for SketchyMicro combined my graphic sense with ancient memory techniques and contemporary technology to facilitate memorising microbiology facts for medical students. I came across the earliest videos they were posting when I was studying for Step 1 of the boards during maternity leave. I thought they were very promising but kept finding ways to improve them and started sending them suggestions through the feedback button as a way to remember the facts better myself. They eventually contacted me and asked me to help shape what medical students everywhere have come to love and depend on. I have had medical students fall to their knees in gratitude when they learn of my involvement! My advice is to be honest with yourself about what is important to you and what truly brings you joy. How to manifest your own unique contribution will come naturally from that acknowledgement.
4. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
My next big dream is to bring my healthcare revolution to a wider audience through a book I’m researching. Also, someone recently expressed they wished that I would create a video series on health, so watch this space!
Thank you Julia for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Bio: Julia Gleize, MD is a passionate doctor specialising in Integrative Medicine, with an international private practice. She brings her vast interdisciplinary knowledge to play in her individualised approach to every patient, accompanying people in their journey to optimal health, always with joy as a prime directive.