Meet Ashley Polski | Ophthalmology Resident & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Polski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My work-life balance is almost always in flux. When I began painting about 5 years ago during my first year of medical school, art was simply a way for me to de-stress and cope with the rigors of medical training. At that time, I had no intention of developing a business (I was surprised to learn that anyone would even want to purchase my art in the first place!). As the years go by, I am continually practicing and learning how to balance my artistic endeavors with my medical training in healthy, efficient ways. Becoming a resident physician this year in the middle of a pandemic has certainly posed challenges, and I’ve had to learn to be flexible and forgiving of myself when I’m not able to paint as much as I’d like. Ultimately, I find that I am most productive as both a physician and an artist when I prioritize my health and wellness above all else.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a first-year ophthalmology resident at the Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City, UT. For almost as long as I can remember, I’ve had an interest in eyes and vision, and I’m very excited to finally be training to become an eye surgeon. When I’m not in the hospital, I create miniature oil paintings that fit inside mint tins. Similarly to my tiny paintings, I find a lot of fascination and beauty in the delicate, intricate surgeries that ophthalmologists perform.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I recently moved from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City for ophthalmology residency, and I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by mountains in both locations. There are many amazing places to check out near Salt Lake, but so far the Cottonwood Canyons in the summertime are my favorite. They’re full of wildflowers and mountain lakes, and I could spend weeks exploring their trails!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to Jesse Berry, MD – a fantastic ocular oncologist at the University of Southern California and a cherished mentor who has supported both my medical career and artistic endeavors throughout medical school and beyond.

Website: ashleypolskiart.com

Instagram: @minttinadventures