The piano has always been a constant in my life, even during the busy early days of training. Opportunities to perform came up, so I’d practice whenever I could fit it in, usually between 10 and 12 at night. I retired from clinical practice a little over three years ago, so I have some extra time to practice now. Even when I saw patients, though, I practiced the piano for about an hour most days. Still, it can be difficult to sit down to practice. You’re alone and no one is clapping for you!
In addition to playing piano, you also race sailboats. What drew you to that sport?
In college, a friend took me out for an hour or so on a sailboat and I had a great time. After that, I rented my own sailboat in the Catskill Mountains and sailed it every day for a month. Later, after I got married, I took all the wedding money, bought a boat, and never looked back.
My first racing sailboat was called Tops’l. My current sailboat is Doctor Jazz. My wife suggested naming the boat The Blood Vessel, but I wanted to match my car license plate, “Doc Jazz.â€
I try to sail in some exotic place once a year. My wife doesn’t do much sailing, but we travel together often. We’ve visited at least 50 countries, plus Antarctica, mostly on land trips. I’ll say, “I want to go sailing in the Caribbean,†and she says, “I’ll help you pack.†I’ve sailed and cruised on the East Coast – Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound, Martha’s Vineyard, Maine, and other parts of New England. I’ve also sailed in San Diego, San Francisco Bay, Croatia, Greece, and numerous Caribbean islands.
Where do you race?
I race at least once a week in season, and most of the races are in the Hudson River and Raritan Bay, New Jersey. I have enjoyed racing regattas in Newport, Rhode Island; Lake George, New York; Long Island Sound, and Martha’s Vineyard.
For many years I had a 24-foot boat. Now, I’m in my ninth year of owning a J/105, a 35-foot racing sailboat with a crew of five. It’s mainly a daysailer, which is a boat with minimal sleeping accommodations.
What do you enjoy most about sailing?
I liked the idea that it could be a lifelong sport, as well as the physical and intellectual challenge of the race. Sailing requires a lot of work and maintenance, so one needs to cultivate a sailing crew. We have a great sense of camaraderie among our crew. One guy has sailed nearly every race with me for 35 years. Without close buddies like him, I wouldn’t be able to do it at all.
What skills do you use in your “pASHions†that you also use in your hematology career?
Both piano and sailing offer the opportunity to focus on what I’m doing. When I’m sailing, I have to concentrate on sailing; when I’m playing the piano, I have to concentrate on playing the piano. If my mind wanders during either one, I’m going to have a problem. For me, it was the same when I was in the office seeing patients. You have to be present in what you’re doing, and you learn to focus on the important details – eliminating noise and nonessentials without losing sight of the overall goals. Also, all three require out-of-the-box thinking to solve problems. After all, a piano only has 88 keys, but innumerable combinations.
Anything one does takes some effort. At times, piano playing feels like a job because of the amount of practice involved. However, as a result, I get to perform with great musicians in front of big audiences, so the work is worth it. With sailing, I concentrate on preparing the boat and crew for racing, so we can go out, place well, and have a good time. It’s the same with medicine: Each time I went to the office, I reviewed the charts and treatment options ahead of time so I was ready for my patients’ problems. In medicine, music, and sailing, the secret is preparation, practice, and focused performance.