Alfred Lam (Radiation Therapy, ’05) has been driven by creativity for as long as he can remember. “Art is something that’s been a part of me for pretty much my entire life,” he says.

While he admits that some people might not think of an artist when they picture a radiation therapist, he says healthcare is filled with artistically inclined individuals.

“It’s sort of a misnomer to me that art and science are considered separate pursuits,” he says. “I believe that the two complement each other quite well and resonate with people with analytical minds.”

“There are so many health professionals I know or have worked with in deeply analytical fields who are these amazing musicians, painters and more.”

As a child, Alfred says he would paint, draw, play the piano and seek out creative pursuits. He shares a core memory from his early days in elementary school – a class project to complete a drawing of a 12-foot-long dolphin.

“I distinctly remember that, while my fellow classmates were focused on colouring in the dolphin itself, I was more concerned with the shading to make it look more realistic and 3D,” he says. “I just wanted to make sure it looked really accurate, even though I think I was only in Grade 1.”

Science, math and the arts were always Alfred’s strong suits in high school, he says. However, the stability of a career in science won out in the end.

“My mom and my dad were certainly relieved as they were a little concerned about me becoming a struggling artist,” he says with a laugh.

Alfred completed a BSc in Biology at the University of Western and then the joint Michener-University of Toronto program in Radiation Therapy. Following his degrees would come another seminal moment in his arts journey, and it took place at the Ontario Science Centre.

“There was this scientific exhibit called Body Worlds where they put dissections of human beings on display,” he says. “Many people found it repulsive, but I thought that was beautiful and interesting.”

“Most of my art is of human figures – of bodies and faces,” Alfred says, before coming to a moment of realization. “I think the exhibit subconsciously reinforced my interest in anatomy and art.”

As he began work as a radiation therapist, he continued his work as a freelance artist – and even showed some of his work at art exhibits.

Following 15 years as a professor, clinical liaison and program liaison for Michener’s joint radiation therapy program with U of T, Alfred has shifted to the role of academic program manager for Michener’s new Centre for Community Health Education.

While he admits to drifting away from his art, Alfred says he has been able to flex his creative muscle in tailoring his approach to lectures, projects and presentations.

“My creativity has helped me enter situations, think things through differently and come up with very interesting solutions that other people might not have considered” he says.

“Though I’m no longer physically creating art at this point, I’m still finding creative ways to teach and solve problems – about work or even just myself.”

Alfred says he believes his ability to think abstractly ultimately led him to success. Looking back on his own experiences, he says children who show an interest in the arts should be embraced and encouraged, as it can help to open pathways further down the line.

“My creative outlets nurtured my soul, but they also provided me with the tools to grasp broad concepts and find success in a very analytical field,” he says.

“Developing different perspectives, especially in children who are already very creative, can help them achieve higher level skills in cognitive reasoning, problem solving and so much more.”