Rising Piano Fire

The greatest sense of fine motor control comes from playing a musical instrument.  There is nothing else that I know which develops as much discriminating ability for the hands.  Diligent and purposeful practicing of musical instruments also allows one to develop habits and strategies that last a lifetime when it comes to perfecting other motor skills such as delicate surgical maneuvers.  Playing the violin and piano has helped us become better surgeons.  Dr. Wu plays piano, and Dr. Lee plays violin (and now plays the piano).  Besides dexterity, music enhances the artistic capacities of our minds and helps us realize the art in our surgeries.

Surgical Artistry, Inc. - (209) 551-1888
2336 Sylvan Ave. Suite C, Modesto, CA 95355

Picture Guide:
0:00 At McHenry Museum with members of Modesto Symphony Orchestra
0:08 at the fat cat getting ready for heavy metal on two violins
0:16 with Rachel Barton Pine on stage
0:24 Rachel Barton Pine on stage flinging bow
0:32 with Rachel Barton Pine.  Those are her CD's
0:40 with Rachel Barton Pine trying looking like metal heads - not very successful
0:48 yes it was a big moment for me to play with famous Rachel Barton Pine
0:56 another on stage rehearsal moment with Rachel Barton Pine
1:04 in Turlock in front of Stan State
1:12 construction on my new office - Surgical Artistry, Inc.
1:20 the ceiling of my new office being constructed
1:28:  More construction
1:36 more construction
1:44 getting closer to completion
1:52:  Even closer to completion.  We moved in October 2006
2:00 hand X-ray:  This means that you're going to see more clinical pictures.
2:08 Trauma pager 5:50 am.  Ugh.  My "shift" is over at 6am.  I took these pictures way after the trauma - don't worry I have my priorities straight.
2:16 Trauma pager says:  "mechanism gun shot"
2:24 ETA 2 minutes!
2:32 in the OR at Stanislaus Surgical Hospital
2:40 Random on stage picture at Stan State.  I was actually playing piano there, but I couldn't resist trying out their Steinway D.
2:48 Other plastic surgeons that my wife knows
2:56 On TV talking about veins.  Local TV.
3:04 Getting ready for Docs Play the Pops.  Dr. Tom Wallace saw my new Steinway didn't even take off his motorcycle helmet.  The power of a new Steinway.  He plays the piano very very well.
3:12 The Docs play the pops publicity photo - Docs play the pops is a Doctor music recital and raises money for MJC (Modesto Junior College) music education.
3:20 Me sitting at a desk
3:28 Picture in the plastic surgery photography room about 7 years ago
3:36 Picture at the steinway store where I bought my steinway.  With Piano professor Steve English
3:44 with Matt Haimovitz (famous cellist) and Tammy
3:52 with Chee Yun (famous violinist) and Tammy (Dr. Wu, the plastic surgeon)
4:00 Chee Yun playing on my violin
4:08 with Chee Yun and Tammy (Dr. Wu - not that easy for me to say Dr. Wu when referring to her, but I'm getting better)
4:16 Charles and Cherrie's (they lent me their video camera which I'm still hogging - I need to give it back soon, because they have something new coming along in their lives) wedding.  I got to play violin briefly at their wedding.  They are the best friends one could have.
4:24 at some Bar.  I don't even drink.  Very very rare picture
4:32 template to place my piano after we had moved - I love hard wood floors.
4:39 Piano at my old house.  I took this picture, emailed to Steinway guys, and they use it on their computers as their background picture - I went to the piano store recently and saw it on their computer screen background.
4:47 My violin gets to meet the new piano
4:55 Yan Yan Chan (my piano teacher) playing on Horowitz's piano, me on the violin
5:04 my famous constipated look while playing violin
5:12 close up of the famous constipated look
5:20 Surgeon me at SSH
5:28 Surgeon (me) waving good bye after a case at Doctors Medical Center, Modesto