As a phlebotomist, I have often felt like an inadequate member of the healthcare team. I have found myself to be at the bottom of the totem pole, and undeserving of the same respect that is granted to those in more prestigious roles.

Ironically, I have had the same feeling about my artwork; I am not credible unless I achieve notoriety and acclaim. It is not enough to simply create. Tattooing poses an interesting conundrum because, although you are creating permanent marks on skin, none of your work is permanent; there is no canvas to display in a gallery or museum a century after your death.

The irony is that phlebotomy is a fundamental part to almost every treatment plan and can alter the course of care… likewise, a tattoo might not inspire the masses, but it can make a tremendous impact on the person who is adorned by such.

I find the parallel between phlebotomy and tattooing to be more significant than a shared usage of needles.

As a phlebotomist, I get to be a fly on the wall. I get to experience every department of healthcare, and see every stage of life. I get to see behind the scenes as I roll my lab cart through the hospital corridors. I get to witness humanity.

As a tattoo artist, I get to bring visions to life. I get to sit with a client as they undergo a transformation. I get to hear their story, and help them tell it through body modification. I get to provide a space where they can be vulnerable. I get to witness humanity.

I feel honored to be a phlebotomist, and I feel honored to be a tattoo artist. I have a broadened worldview and a wider capacity for empathy because of the experience I’ve acquired through my work. I hope to make as much of an impact on others as those in my chair have made on me.