DR. ROBBIE NEWTON DRUMMOND Emergency room physician, Saskatoon I was born in Montreal. I went to McGill Medical School in the ’80s. Over the years I have published two books of poetry (not a way to become independently wealthy, it turns out; neither is painting). I live in a loft in Saskatoon with my wife, two teenagers and three cats. I am trying to learn how to play guitar and write songs. What do you like to do with your leisure time? My main passion and endeavour now is to establish myself as a visual artist. I work in both acrylic and oil on canvas. I have a studio on Avenue E. I opened LUX Gallery in the old McHague funeral home on Third Avenue in downtown Saskatoon, where we showcase my wife’s line of unique jewelry and my paintings. I am interested in the power of symbols and sacred geometry. I paint water in all its permutations. I paint birds and all the creatures of nature. I have a series of cat paintings. I am currently
working on a series called “Nine Dragons” based on an ancient Chinese scroll dedicated to the Tao. Why do you do this? I paint because I have to. I have an understanding and a vision that needs to be expressed. I have a gift. I want to deepen my abilities to create works of beauty and truth. I just wish I had more technical skill. Why do you think it is important for physicians to have outside pursuits? The practice of medicine is honourable and of great value. It is often exhausting. I love what I do in the mayhem of the ER. To sit at my easel alone in the quiet and enter the mysterious world of the painting I am working on – that is my antidote to the stress I face daily. Medicine is very much of the left brain. Painting is very much of the right brain. I have met many new friends that have nothing to do with the world of the stethoscope and PET scanner. I like to think of myself as a painter who practises medicine on the side.
Why do you do this? I decided at age 50 that I had to do something about being fat and unfit. That led to triathlon since I was confident in the water, having learned to swim in Last Mountain Lake, and used a bicycle as my main transport in my 20s. I figured it was possible to learn to run. I thought I could use the technical knowledge from my specialty to maximize gains. I knew that if I did not fix my lifestyle, the consequences would start to progressively accumulate. With each longer event, the surprise that I could actually do it was an increasing pleasure: i.e. my first Half Iron in July (2.5K swim, 90K bike, 21.1K run). And I qualified for the age group Canadian team for long-distance triathlon.
DR. MILO FINK Head, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Regina I am 64 and live with my wife, Liz Gibbings, an internist, and our youngest son, age 16. Our two older children live in Montreal and Vancouver. What do you like to do with your leisure time? Triathlon.
Most weeks I train between seven and 12 hours, in early mornings and weekends. I think I feel more energetic, happier and my brain probably works better than when I was unfit. Why do you think it is important for physicians to have outside pursuits? As a physician, I tell people that exercise is of major importance in their health. I need to follow my own prescription. The social connections with my training group of non-physicians, ages from preteen to their 50s, is refreshing and supportive.
SMA DIGEST | WINTER 2017
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