StarBase 118 Staff Posted February 4 Posted February 4 Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of awards from our 2024 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write and imagine their characters, as well as their out-of-character contributions and achievements. This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Lieutenant Commander V’len Kel, who plays a Trilldorian (Andorian/Trill hybrid) and serves as the Acting Chief Medical Officer and Second Officer of the Chin’toka. He won the Prantares Ribbon – Medical, which is awarded to medical officers who have moved beyond standard competence to display a true gift for the healing arts in the context of space medicine. Officers receiving this award demonstrate the ability to keep a steady hand in the often hazardous conditions in which they must practice, as well as the willingness to risk their own lives to save others. When they are not actively caring for patients, many doctors spend their time on duty undertaking medical research or familiarizing themselves with the findings of previous medical studies. Like their colleagues in the Science Department, they utilize their specific abilities in cross-department collaboration. Nilsen: V’LEN! IT’S BEEN SOOOOO LONG!!!!!! Why not reintroduce yourself to us? Tell us a little about the writer behind the character—where in the world do you hail from? Kel: Great to be writing with you again, Lhandon. Outside my space job, my name is Don. I am unapologetically from the state of Michigan in the US. I was born between Detroit and Ann Arbor and now live in Kalamazoo on the western side of the state. I have a great family and several pets. I hold degrees in Biology and Biochemistry. I worked in the biotech industry for 18 years before moving into pharma, where I’ve been for the last six years. Why did you pick medical as your role? Interestingly, I didn’t. My desire was to be a Science officer, but the Thor needed a doctor, and that’s where I was posted. I’ve always taught my kids, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit,” so I happily took the role. I wasn’t sure at the time, but it was the best thing to happen, and I’ve never looked back. Now, I’m not cut out to be a medical officer—I’m too squeamish. You’ve been a medical officer for your entire time at 118. What do you enjoy most about this role? Professionally, I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving, and the same is true for my writing. I enjoy the medical role most when I can dive into the molecular biology and chemistry I love and write from that perspective. I also like to tackle an injury or a complex disease and really think about how to outsmart it. At the same time, I like to offer people compassion—whether that’s tending a wound or having shots of Saurian brandy. That’s a big part of what V’Len does. Karrod Niac, your previous CO, said, “Within our game, the Medical Officer role is a complex challenge where you’re often tapped to be a counselor, a confidant, and a physician all at once, yet Lieutenant Commander V’Len Kel (Don) does so with an enormous display of grace and dignity.” My question is: how do you do that? I’ll just be honest here—I was born with a heart defect, so I’ve been around doctors all my life. I’ve had six heart surgeries and countless little procedures. In a way, V’Len is my ideal doctor. I’d say he’s also a composite of a doctor I had at Johns Hopkins and a doctor I had at the University of Michigan—smart, compassionate people who cared not just about me physically but also about my life, career, and family. They’re brilliant and, at the same time, nerdy and silly. Ultimately, V’Len wants to help people live their best lives. What words of wisdom do you have for future or younger medical officers? Wow, okay. I guess I would say familiarize yourself with the Medicines List and Medical Equipment pages in the wiki. It gives your writing that authentic Star Trek feel and helps you understand what might be possible. I also recommend doing your research. If a fungus turns people into zombies, how does that work? Start looking at real-life examples and expand from there. If you’re treating an injury, see how it’s done today and then figure out what Star Trek technology applies or what future treatments are proposed. Finally, think outside the box. I once had a bunch of burn victims and no sickbay. I had tons of seawater, though, and I remembered that sand from the Dead Sea or Diani Beach in Kenya is very good for the skin. We made a sort of poultice with the seawater and sand available, and it helped the burns. Thanks for your time, Lieutenant Commander V’Len Kel You can read more about Lieutenant Commander V’Len Kel here on the wiki View the full article
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