JONATHAN BEITLER DAY JOB: Professor of radiation oncology,
otolaryngology and hematology/medical oncology SECRET LIFE: US Army Reserves and Connecticut National Guard flight surgeon; Angel Flight pilot
Beitler was a general surgery resident when he joined the US Army Reserves in 1983, eventually rising to colonel. A member of the National Guard since 2011, his duty requires one weekend a month as well as a night flight, and occasional deployments or training missions. In December, he took Tactical Combat Medical Care, the military’s training course for medical experts going to a war zone. Beitler is the winner in the military service category for the 2012 Atlanta Business Chronicle Health-Care Heroes Awards. He is currently deployed in Kuwait with an Apache unit, expected to serve through April. HIS WORDS: “As a flight surgeon, I get to combine my love of flying with a bit of patriotism. . . . At my age, it is a great opportunity to continue serving the country. Particularly with an army that has been at war for more than ten years, this activity satisfies that innate drive to do good. Our motto is to ‘preserve the fighting strength’—and we do.”
SHARON W. WEISS DAY JOB: Professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and associate
dean for faculty affairs, School of Medicine SECRET LIFE: Pastry chef
About ten years ago, Weiss began studying baking and pastry in earnest, taking several professional classes. She has been mixing it up ever since. HER WORDS: “As a surgical pathologist who analyzes form and color
patterns under the microscope, the art of pastry seemed to be a natural extension of these skills. Shape, color, and taste are the ‘ingredients’ that go into an artistic confection. I find the physical act of making a pastry very relaxing, but there are certainly other rewards. To me, the ability to create a beautiful and delicious pastry is another way of feeling accomplished. The enjoyment others derive from eating my ‘transitory art’ is a glorious reward, too.” WINTE R 2013
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