Biography
Viswanath 'Veesh' Swamy is an internationally-published photographer, artist, and medical student based between NYC, Detroit, & Grand Rapids. Currently, he is enrolled in his medical doctorate (M.D.) degree, and he is passionate about social innovation and visual storytelling by intersecting art, human-centered design, technology, and medicine.
In the arts, Veesh has published his photography in a wide range of media from the Journal of Narrative Medicine to Argentina's Caras Magazine. His work has been exhibited in Detroit, MI and Brooklyn, NYC. In addition, Veesh works closely with the singer/songwriter, Faime, in which he assists in creative direction and has created the Album Artwork for global hit single "Feels Like You" and EP "Love Drunk."
In academia, his current research interests span the medical humanities, advances in medical technology, and surgical technique. He has presented projects in France, Denmark, and Italy, and has a few manuscripts currently under review by academic journals. While in medical school, he currently serves as an Academic Tutor (AQS, Boards Style Review) and as a volunteer Interviewer for prospective medical students. His clinical interests include Surgery or Cardiology.
Outside of medicine and the arts, Veesh is a strong proponent of mentorship and entrepreneurship. He served as a volunteer mentor for BUILD NYC, assisting Bronx high school students build small companies. He credits the role of mentorship and guidance in his work thus far, and he hopes that he can pay it forward as much as possible.
In his free time, Veesh enjoys playing the piano, writing, reading books, and is a lover of coffee culture. Currently, he is learning to play I know I'm not the only one by Sam Smith, writing a collection of poems/short stories on trauma/hardship, reading To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara, and is making Stove Top Coffee cappuccinos at home.
Listen to "Episode 1: Health Design" featuring Veesh Swamy on the Get to Know podcast.
Read Veesh's interview with Artenzza Magazine.
Education
- (Current), MD, Doctor of Medicine, College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University
- 2020, MSc, Narrative Medicine, Columbia University in the City of New York
- 2017, Non-Degree, Fashion Design, Parsons Paris, The New School of Design
- 2018, BS, Global Supply Chain, Summa Cum Laude, Wayne State University
- 2014, Class Rank: 5/579, High School Diploma, Grand Blanc High School
Publications + Features
- Getty Images
- HOUR Magazine (x4)
- SEEN Magazine (x2)
- CARAS Magazine
- Archive Magazine
- D Business Magazine
- Think Detroit Exhibition
- Detroit Institute of Arts (FashBash)
- Runway 7 NYFW
- Borsalino
- Milk Studios
- Coach New York
- Blue Bedroom Records
- Paraiso Miami Beach
- Flanelle Magazine
- ELLE India
- Lifestyle Asia
- Times of India
- The Talk Studio
Academic Presentations + Publications
Swamy, Viswanath. Hands in Translation. Chapel Hill, NC. The Health Humanities Journal University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. April 2023.
Means, Olivia MD; Fernstrum, Colton MD; Lucich, Elizabeth MD; Little, Andrea MD, MBA; Dietze-Fiedler, Megan MD; Pumarada-Fernandez, Deborah MD; Swamy, Viswanath MS, BS; Girotto, John MD, MBA, FAAP, FACS. Management of Dog Bite Injuries: Procedural Sedation, Infection, and Operative Indications at a Single-Institution Level I Pediatric Trauma Hospital. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 90(1):p 71-75, January 2023
Swamy, V.L., Effect(s) of Digital Photography on Patient Perception in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 20th International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Communication, Medicine, and Ethics – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. Abstract accepted July 2022.
Swamy, V.L., Striking Balance: Art and Biotechnology on Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Translations and Collaborations between Medicine, Social Sciences and the Humanities – Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Abstract accepted June 2022.
Swamy, V.L., The Rhythm That Binds Us. New York, NY. Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine. May 2022.
Swamy, V.L., Portrait Photography – A Rehabilitative Tool? . Poster presented at: 19th International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Communication, Medicine, and Ethics – Università degli Studi dell'Insubri, Como, Italy. June 2021
Swamy, V.L., Jose A. Augmented Reflection in Healing Architecture: A Proposed Technological Psychosocial Intervention. Poster presented at: Space, Place, and Design in Medicine Conference – University of Southern Denmark. June 2021.
Swamy, V.L., The Verbal and Physical Border in Non-Dialogical Patient-Doctor Relationship: Health Beyond Borders Conference – Columbia University Paris Global Center, Paris, June 2019. [Oral Presentation]
Veesh's scholarly work can be found on ResearchGate.