My Background

Wilma Bulkin Siegel, M.D. is a woman of many talents, and her life's work has been nothing short of remarkable. Born in 1936, during a time of great social and cultural change, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1958 and went on to pursue a career in medicine at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, earning her medical degree in 1962.

Dr. Siegel worked as an oncologist in New York City. She was one of the first to establish a hospice in the state of New York and to accept patients with AIDS.

Dr. Siegel was invited to share her expertise on AIDS with the Presidential Commission in Washington.

Following her retirement, Dr. Siegel turned her attention to her other childhood dream: painting. Combining her passion for medicine with her love of the arts, she created a series of paintings of people living with AIDS. In April 2009 she received the Janice Palmer Award of the Society of Arts in Healthcare.

 Wilma Bulkin Siegel has always been a creative soul, ever since she was a young girl. 

 "As a physician and artist, I am driven by a singular purpose: to heal people. Through my medical education and my art, I strive to explore different avenues of healing and to encourage people to consider their place in the world. In my work as both a retired doctor and a portrait artist, I am focused on capturing the essence of the individual and addressing pertinent social issues through a form of social realism."

Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel has been at the forefront of integrating art into medicine, using her knowledge and experience to enhance medical care. Her innovative approach has led her to explore different projects and ideas, drawing inspiration from the work of others in the field.

I find inspiration in humanity. I have a passion for painting people, as the human being is a marvel of nature and I am captivated by the human experience.

The human body, mind, and soul are truly amazing and have produced incredible advancements in our world, from the miracle of life to the modern technology that allows us to explore and communicate. 

With our hands, hearts, and brilliant minds, we are capable of creating beauty in all forms of art. 

However, we must also acknowledge our capacity for destruction, as we navigate the perpetual struggle between life and death.

Despite the inevitability of death, it has been my choice to devote my life to healing others as a physician. 

This same dedication to healing is also present in my art. I believe that the ability to create and appreciate beauty is a fundamental part of the human experience, and I am constantly in awe of our potential for both good and evil.