Dr. Ian Penn
How Art and Science Work Together to Advance New Device Technology
Dr. Ian Penn (Canada) is a Clinical Professor of Cardiology at the University of British Columbia and is affiliated with the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. He has made remarkable contributions to interventional cardiology, particularly in the development and advancement of the first generation of coronary stents. His research, including the publication “Coronary Stenting: A Global Perspective,” highlights the evolution and worldwide adoption of stenting techniques. In fact, Dr. Penn was the mentor who helped us start performing the first Palmaz-Schatz stent procedures in our country and played a pivotal role in the launch of TCTAP. Later, we became friends. He loved skiing, so I started skiing from that time as well. I still have the letter I wrote to Ian 20 years ago, where I planned a visit to Whistler for skiing.
Dear Ian, My Real Artist Friend,
It is so heartwarming to receive your family photos. Luckily, your kids seem to have inherited their genes from your wife’s side! Since I first met you at Victoria Hospital in the winter of 1991, we’ve known each other for over than years. I thought I had experienced and achieved much, yet every time I see you, I’m inspired and, indeed, feel a renowned sense of motivation. Asher, Elisa, Daniel, Issac, and Sandy, you have a truly abundant harvest- blessed with your wonderful children. I genuinely admire and envy the courage it took for you to transform into an artist and embrace a new path in life. By the way, two years ago, I established a foundation called CVRF, making it easier to lead the Angioplasty Summit meeting. Thank you again for helping me start my very first meetings back in 1995. It’s freezing out here, so I’ve been spending most of my weekends as a couch potato, watching television soap operas. I will recommend a good one for you as well. I hope you enjoy this Christmas Holiday with your lovely family, and I can’t wait to meet you on the ski slopes soon! See you soon on the slopes, my Buddy!! Warm regards, SJ (2004-12-28)
One vivid memory that lingers in my mind is from the very first time I met Ian; he was truly a unique and remarkable person. He already had a deep understanding of Eastern cultures and even shared fascinating insights about shamanism. He said he studied philosophy until he unexpectedly became a doctor. Now, he lives as an artist and painter.
In the realm of art, Dr. Penn’s work spans various mediums and forms, capturing the essence of the people, places, and stories that have shaped his life. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2010. His art often delves into themes of memory and personal history, exemplified by his solo exhibition, “Projections: A Monument to Personal Memory,” held at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. This powerful exhibition combined drawing, video, photography, and sculpture to explore the second generation’s connection to the Holocaust. Dr. Penn’s passion for landscapes, particularly mountain vistas, is reflected in his many paintings of Whistler and the Callaghan Valley.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, he is also a dedicated philanthropist, integrating art into healthcare. In 2009, he and his wife, Dr. Sandy Penn Whitehouse, founded the PENN IDEA Art Award, which bridges the visual arts and healthcare by supporting emerging artists who create works for healing environments in hospitals. Dr. Penn’s commitment to both his medical and artistic careers underscores his multifaceted talents and the profound impact of his contributions to society.
Dr. Ian Penn (Canada) is a Clinical Professor of Cardiology at the University of British Columbia and is affiliated with the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. He has made remarkable contributions to interventional cardiology, particularly in the development and advancement of the first generation of coronary stents. His research, including the publication “Coronary Stenting: A Global Perspective,” highlights the evolution and worldwide adoption of stenting techniques. In fact, Dr. Penn was the mentor who helped us start performing the first Palmaz-Schatz stent procedures in our country and played a pivotal role in the launch of TCTAP. Later, we became friends. He loved skiing, so I started skiing from that time as well. I still have the letter I wrote to Ian 20 years ago, where I planned a visit to Whistler for skiing.
Dear Ian, My Real Artist Friend,
It is so heartwarming to receive your family photos. Luckily, your kids seem to have inherited their genes from your wife’s side! Since I first met you at Victoria Hospital in the winter of 1991, we’ve known each other for over than years. I thought I had experienced and achieved much, yet every time I see you, I’m inspired and, indeed, feel a renowned sense of motivation. Asher, Elisa, Daniel, Issac, and Sandy, you have a truly abundant harvest- blessed with your wonderful children. I genuinely admire and envy the courage it took for you to transform into an artist and embrace a new path in life. By the way, two years ago, I established a foundation called CVRF, making it easier to lead the Angioplasty Summit meeting. Thank you again for helping me start my very first meetings back in 1995. It’s freezing out here, so I’ve been spending most of my weekends as a couch potato, watching television soap operas. I will recommend a good one for you as well. I hope you enjoy this Christmas Holiday with your lovely family, and I can’t wait to meet you on the ski slopes soon! See you soon on the slopes, my Buddy!! Warm regards, SJ (2004-12-28)
One vivid memory that lingers in my mind is from the very first time I met Ian; he was truly a unique and remarkable person. He already had a deep understanding of Eastern cultures and even shared fascinating insights about shamanism. He said he studied philosophy until he unexpectedly became a doctor. Now, he lives as an artist and painter.
In the realm of art, Dr. Penn’s work spans various mediums and forms, capturing the essence of the people, places, and stories that have shaped his life. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2010. His art often delves into themes of memory and personal history, exemplified by his solo exhibition, “Projections: A Monument to Personal Memory,” held at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. This powerful exhibition combined drawing, video, photography, and sculpture to explore the second generation’s connection to the Holocaust. Dr. Penn’s passion for landscapes, particularly mountain vistas, is reflected in his many paintings of Whistler and the Callaghan Valley.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, he is also a dedicated philanthropist, integrating art into healthcare. In 2009, he and his wife, Dr. Sandy Penn Whitehouse, founded the PENN IDEA Art Award, which bridges the visual arts and healthcare by supporting emerging artists who create works for healing environments in hospitals. Dr. Penn’s commitment to both his medical and artistic careers underscores his multifaceted talents and the profound impact of his contributions to society.