Giuliano De Portu, Keeper of the Light
For the award-winning photojournalist-turned-doctor, art serves an important purpose in history and medicine.
“As a photojournalist, being exposed to human suffering made me more empathetic as a doctor.”
Giuliano De Portu intimately understands the connection between photography and medicine.
While he currently serves as program director of the Medical Student Ultrasound Curriculum at UF’s College of Medicine, De Portu spent over 10 years as a professional photojournalist in Puerto Rico. The purpose-driven work of documenting history was De Portu’s first motivation for pursuing photojournalism, a career that prepared him—albeit unexpectedly—for his lifelong dream of attending medical school. Tragedies he documented as a photojournalist laid the foundation for the radical empathy he practices as a doctor. "It's about being kind to other human beings."
Above: the award-winning photo by De Portu that ran in Life Magazine, 1998, depicting a man clubbed unconscious after police clashed with protesters. This occurred during a telephone strike in a San Juan suburb.
Image taken for the College of Medicine’s participation in White Coats for Black Lives.
De Portu’s personal practice now revolves around nature photography in Gainesville, FL. Seen here is a mother egret feeding her young.
See more of De Portu’s work at https://www.giulianodeportu.com. Connect on Instagram at @papabearuf.