UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology_SS 2025_FOR PRINT - Flipbook - Page 6
CHAIR'S
LETTER
Dear All,
The human experience of loneliness, long recognized for its medical implications, is the central theme of this issue of
the UCLA Radiation Oncology Journal. We begin with an in-depth interview with Richard Deming. In his book, This
Exquisite Loneliness, Richard Deming asks—if each of us will experience loneliness at one time or another during our
lives, how might we use it…how might we wield our loneliness to forge connection and create meaningful work? To
explore this question, Deming dives into the lives of a handful of artists and creators whose work continues to impact
Deming and us. He seeks to know how they used their own loneliness to create signi昀椀cant work and connection, where
they failed, and how we might as individuals do better.
Following Deming’s lead, the UCLA Radiation Oncology Journal enlists several living artists and creators to explore
Deming’s question—is loneliness an untapped power?
In a 昀椀rst of its kind for any existing medical literature, we interview 昀椀ne arts legend, Francesco Clemente. Clemente,
our Featured Artist, has a singular take on loneliness, connection, and the creation of art. With a strong sense of
lineage, Clemente—similar in concept to Deming—believes painting can be a way to commune with both who
came before and those yet to arrive. Beyond this concept, Clemente views the act of painting as a way to transmute
“loneliness” into “aloneness”—a signal idea that shifts loneliness into something useable…something even joyful.
Our Featured Poet and Yale Younger, Richard Siken, explores and discusses loneliness through his poetry and
the isolation his stroke created. He describes how he lost friends and his use of language. How he embraced the
reality of his isolation and loneliness, and then leaned back hard on his art to relearn language and poetry all while
strengthening old and new connections. Like Deming, Siken nods to those who came before, to the present, and to
those yet to arrive, sharing in his interview: “We bene昀椀t from the documents of the past. We say, I was in this room
once. It is a dif昀椀cult room. I left this on the table for you. I hope it helps. Whoever you are, reading this—it would have
been nice to meet you, but I couldn’t wait...”
Leanne Ford, our Featured Designer, is known for collaborating with family and friends to create spaces that foster
connection. She encourages people not to wait until they own a home to craft spaces that will improve life. Bringing
this concept to the public, Ford has designed the Buck Mason shops—a company of which her husband is a cofounder—to be “third spaces” where people can pick up a matcha or coffee, sit on perfectly worn leather sofas and
chairs, connect, read under the glow of a vintage Noguchi Akari, and listen to music on vinyl. Through her residential
and commercial work, Ford offers freedom inducing instruction on how to cut through the ghost rules, expenses, and
velvet ropes of design to curate spaces that positively build upon and enhance the human experience. If one must be
alone, it might as well be an inspiring and calming space.
In addition to our featured artists, this issue contains a special editorial on a young couple, Patty and Tyler, who
used their loneliness as a spark to establish Stoop Coffee, a neighborhood coffee and breakfast group in their
neighborhood in San Franscisco. Their creation of Stoop Coffee plugged Patty and Tyler into their surrounding
community and generated opportunities for them and their immediate neighbors to meet and make connections. The
group and the community created has also provided their young children with a strong sense of community—despite
living in a major, sometimes lonely city.
Alongside our featured artists, this edition of the Journal highlights the work of Dr. Tania Kaprealian and her
thoughtful care of a patient previously left without options; a new study led by Dr. Amar Kishan that establishes
a link between early side effects from prostate cancer radiation and long-term side effects; Dr. Matthew Farrell as
the inaugural Hope Fellow of the recently established Institute for the Study of Hope, Dignity, and Wellbeing; a
new treatment strategy from Dr. Frank Pajonk, Dr. Ling He, and team for treating glioblastoma by reprogramming
aggressive cancer cells into harmless ones; and the promotion of the Department of Radiation Oncology’s long-time
Study Coordinator, Care Felix, to Manager of Clinical Research Unit.
We're very proud to share this issue of the Journal with you.
Be Well and Stay Safe,
Michael Steinberg, M.D.
Professor and Chair
@MSteinbergMD
