David Lentz was one of the two “Best of Show” winners representing PAH in the second “Celebration of Art and Life” exhibit. Known around the hospital as an oncology and Pavilion nurse who has been with PAH since 2006, David’s interests go well beyond nursing.
Shown here is “Best of Show” PAH winner, 6 Schiedt Oncology and Pavilion Nurse, David Lentz, with his painting “Cotton Candy Birches.”
Originally form York, PA, David moved to Philadelphia in 1996 to study chemical engineering at Drexel. After receiving his bachelor’s degree he moved out west to California, living briefly in Santa Cruz, San Diego, and eventually San Francisco for nine years.
While in San Francisco, David experiences what he calls “a creative explosion,” which spurred him to explore the arts including everything from watercolor painting, playing the piano, harp and guitar, crocheting, photography, yoga, singing, songwriting, and gardening. "I had many different jobs during my creative years,” said David. “I was a chemical validation and process engineer, an architectural drafter, a florist, and a consultant. Being a florist gave me an appreciation of flowers, which I still paint a lot of today.” This is apparent in David’s winning painting “Cotton Candy Birches.”
After his creative exploration, David felt he needed a change. So he asked myself what did he truly want to do? The answer came to him and it was clear: to help people. So in 2005, he traveled cross country back to Philadelphia. After a year of pre-requisite courses at the Community College of Philadelphia he then enrolled in Drexel’s Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) nursing program, where he earned his Nursing bachelor's degree and RN license within a year.
David joined the PAH family in 2005 as a med/surg oncology nurse on 5 Cathcart, but then went to 6 Schiedt Oncology and The Pavilion unit when it opened. Since working here, he has been able to successfully combine two of his passions - nursing and art. Known for having a true knack for nursing and a true passion for painting, David has contributed 13 pieces on 6 Schiedt in the patient rooms and nurse’s station. He also has ten pieces on display in the Perelman Center. “It was exciting to be picked to show, let alone win a Best in Show,” said David. “I am very proud to have my pieces on display throughout Penn Medicine because I believe art heals the soul and it is a mission of mine to get more art in more hospitals everywhere. It’s wonderful to know it cheers people up and helps our oncology and other patient populations forget for a second that they have cancer or a disease. Healthcare workers and families always get joy from the paintings as well and I am always looking for generous donors to help supply more hospital hallways and patient rooms with artwork.”
A self taught watercolor artist, David has a fond appreciation for flowers and landscapes. To see more of David’s artwork you can visit his website.
