// loads patient image from database
        // image is in binary format -- converts it to image using memory stream
        private Image getPatientProfileImage()
        {
            byte[]       imageHexCode = database.getPatientImage(patient).Image;
            MemoryStream ms           = new MemoryStream(imageHexCode);
            Image        image        = Image.FromStream(ms);

            image = GlobalImageMethods.ResizeImage(image, 256, 256);
            return(image);
        }