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ABC Travelling Fellows 2008 Diary Ninth stop: San Antonio 20 May to 22 May Tuesday 20 May The progress through Denver airport was smooth for all except Richard Williams, who is now used to getting the extra security treatment. Suddenly, there we were in San Antonio, blasted by heat and by the warmth of our welcome by Dr Charles Rockwood (ABC 1967), and current department chairman Dr Daniel Carlisle. We were taken direct to the University of Texas Health Science Center, when the timetable for the trip and the fellows’ billets were laid out, before the fellows introduced themselves to the faculty. A discussion of practice and training in the fellows’ home units followed, with great interest on both sides. The question of selection of orthopaedic trainees and ways of dealing with under-performers seems to cause similar problems across the world. We were then taken to Rudy’s Barbecue, a rustic and superb diner, where the fellows enjoyed ribs, pork loin and creamed corn with residents and faculty, including Dr Carlisle, Dr Rockwood (ABC 1967), Dr Green (ABC) and Dr Jesse DeLee (ABC 1983), before separating to our hosts’ homes for a relaxing evening. At Dr Carlisle’s home Peter Poon and Alasdair Sutherland shot hoops and paintballs, threw baseballs and footballs.
Rustic BBQ The next morning we had a long lie in bed then a wild ride to the UCT Health campus in his convertible. Comparing notes with the other fellows, it was clear that everyone had had excellent but quite different hospitality: Richard Williams at Dr Chang’s; Dominic Meek at Dr Marshall’s before going to the OR for a quick unicompartmental knee arthroplasty; Kevin Mulhall swimming and shooting hoops at Dr Reinker’s; Rob Pollock at Dr Williams’ before heading off to the OR for the morning; Andrew Barron enjoying margaritas at Dr Corley’s and seeing the sights of the city.
The fellows with Drs Rockwood, DeLee and Green Wednesday 21st May The fellows re-convened with residents and faculty for a scientific session. The presenting fellows all felt somewhat intimidated by inclusion on a schedule with Drs Green, DeLee, Rockwood and Wirth, but the session was excellent. We heard the thoughts of Dr Green on producing certain well known textbooks; Dr DeLee on vascular and neurological complications of knee ligament injuries; Dr Marshall on isolation of poly wear particles; Dr Corley on the manifestations of systemic disease in the hand; Dr Rockwood on cuff tears in the elderly, and Dr Wirth (ABC 1997) on the reverse shoulder prosthesis. In the afternoon, we were taken into the city centre by the residents (thanks Jay, Jamey, Justin), to have lunch, remember (to visit) the Alamo, and then visit a Western Outfitter, where Richard Williams went the whole hog, Stetson and all. The day was rounded off by a Mexican dinner at Dr Carlisle’s home, where Peter Poon showed his wicked sense of humour to all gathered, as he produced a series of character assassinations of his companions, before going on to lead the way after the party.
The fellows remember the Alamo
Deputy Kevin
Richard Williams gets a shoe shine And so, after a very brief stop, our visit to San Antonio was over, and we were all back at the airport once more, wondering just what had happened. |
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