James Pilco combines the human side of the doctor with art

Treating the patient as a human being is one of the lessons that marked the life of James Pilco Luzuriaga, a lesson he applies to his daily activities.
Surgeon in Endoscopy, professor, intellectual, painter and writer, are some of the facets of this medical professional that, at first glance, anyone would think is saturated with activities, but as he says: "... there is time for everything " But how do you combine art and medicine?
James tells us that his love of art has been with him since he was a child and although he does not have an artistic heritage or teaching, he has been painting since he was four years old.
His first exhibition was made at the 17 years, in the Banco del Pacífico gallery. "I had several exhibitions in different galleries in the city," he says.
Regarding his academic training, he comments that he studied primary and secondary education in the Borja educational unit and considers that the 12 years of Jesuit formation fostered his interest in constant scientific preparation and being linked to the academy.

Preparation
Later he would enter the University of Cuenca to study Medicine "at the time that it was relatively easy to access university studies".
After completing the university, at 1991, he traveled to Mexico City where he entered the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to study Digestive Surgery and later Interventional Endoscopy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery.
As anecdote tells that in that country the studies were paid thanks to the painting, to the art. "I was able to relate art, literature and the scientific process that allowed me to publish three books before having 30 years," he says.
Among his works are a book of Surgery for Gastroesophageal Reflux, an Atlas of Surgery with the UNAM and a book of painting and poetry called "With the soul in the face."
This learning allowed him to understand the relationship that must exist between the doctor and the patient "and not lose the human side".
During his stay in the Aztec country he exhibited in some places, among them the Diego Rivera Mural Museum, where he presented "With the soul in his face".
When he returned to Cuenca in 1998, James was surprised to find no opportunities in his profession, because he was closed doors in all institutions. However, "it is the best thing that could have happened to me ...", he affirms and adds that this experience helped him to get ahead on his own, to the point that he became founder of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Azuay (UDA) where he works as a professor of the chair of Bioethics, in which he motivates students to have a human and technical learning.
"We give them a general culture, that they learn history, literature, music, among others".

Virtual
The specialist has his office that is decorated with his paintings, but explains that his works do not reflect the medical field, on the contrary, with each brushstroke he expresses what he feels.
For example, in his most recent paintings show Batman, of whom James declares himself as an admirer. "I admire him because he is a superhero who does not need magical things, does not fly and is not steel, but he is intelligent ...", he maintains, and compares him to people who without having super powers do great things for the benefit of humanity .
Also, even though Batman does good, "he always ends badly" and is worthy of admiration.
Another element of his paintings are children who, according to the doctor, are the reflection of innocence, an innocence that is being lost, because every time children are losing the chance to have fun with simple things in life. "I do not know what term to use ... I do not know if they are being jailers of technology, they are depending one hundred percent of this ...", he reflects.
His paintings are simple, since he considers that people have to enjoy an art that is easy to understand and one of the artist's tasks is "not to underestimate the public".
Pilco mentions that he is always active, he even has a book where he writes all his ideas, draws, shapes what he feels.
Currently preparing a publication called "Bad learning of health" which consists of notes on Anthropology, Bioethics, Literature, Film, directed to doctors, which is prepared in collaboration with colleagues from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
In addition, he prepares a mural for the Faculty of Medicine of the International University of Ecuador, which will soon hand him over.