tȟatȟáŋka

Riley Burghart, Nurse Anesthesia Class of 2026

In many Indian communities, the Buffalo has long been a symbol of self-sacrifice; it gives until there is nothing left. The buffalo made life possible for many by providing warmth, nutrients, tools – every part seen as valuable and used for a unique purpose. To me, the buffalo serves as a reminder to give all that we have for others until there is nothing left to give. As you walk the halls, rooms, and sidewalks of KUMC and beyond, I hope this piece reminds you of your own extraordinary value and unique mission to provide for and serve all that you are able.

Fancy Donut

Fancy Donut

Kimlan Phan, M1, Class of 2027

I’ve been working with clay since high school where I primarily focused on hand building and sculptures. After starting undergrad at UMKC, I continued ceramics at the KC Clay Guild, a local nonprofit pottery studio. There, I forced myself to learn throwing on the wheel, which has now become my main practice. During the pandemic, when I was cut off from the studio and this outlet I had been relying on, I was in a very dark place mentally. After a lot of coaxing from friends and family, I returned to ceramic work, and during my gap year, I spent almost all of my free time working with clay. In the process, I found a community among my fellow potters. The Fancy Donut was born from a series of challenges I created for myself.

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I Don’t Have Time

I Don’t Have Time

Simon Longhi, M3, Class of 2025

I don’t have time.

I happened upon my two life roads
that diverged in a wood
so much later than I’d prefer.
It’s an echoey, reverberating–…
… –Err, berating, thing
that whirrs
like a sputtering motor
within my mind. Mulling
over so much, missed, in life.
I still want to reach, proverbial peace.
Keep, my sense of wonder.
Find, finally, someone to love.
But the wind that blows
down that sort of road,
could I even let,
that,
carry me?
Is that allowed?
Because to career, careen, down
–Medicine–, that path,
my calling, as a healer, now–
shouldn’t that demand in me, most everything?

I don’t have time.

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Your Life is Now

Your Life is Now

Riley Burghart, Nurse Anesthesia, Class of 2026

I think we all have moments in our lives, myself included, where we are constantly running around chasing our dreams thinking, “If I can just get/do/be this, THEN I’ll be content.” Working as an ICU nurse, I learned very quickly that many individuals do not ever slow down to be grateful for the small blessings they have until those blessings are taken away. Though these thoughts are part of the human condition, I challenge you to change your mindset. There will always be more things to do, be, and achieve. But you only have one “today.” 

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