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85 EW IN OTHER NEWS by Lauren Lipuma EyeWorld Contributing Writer American Glaucoma Society (AGS) was formed, he and other glaucoma specialists formed an AGS band and played at many early AGS events. His musical talents have even ex- tended to his children—all 3 of his daughters play the piano, and 1 is currently pursuing a master's degree in music composition. Dr. Grover began playing the saxophone in 7th grade and played throughout middle school and high school. He took a break from the saxophone in college, played again "I can't pass a keyboard without sitting down and playing it because they all sound different, and I want to hear how they sound," he said. In medical school, during his psychiatry rotation at Charity Hos- pital in New Orleans, Dr. Fellman found that he could use music to connect with his patients. "There was a piano in the recreation room, and I'd sit there and play," he recalled. "It definitely broke down barriers in terms of communication with patients." Dr. Fellman continued to play music after he graduated. When the said. She'll sing during surgery on the first eye, she said, and by the time she gets around to operating on the second eye, patients are ready to make a request. She has even developed a reputation as a singing surgeon. "[Patients] ask, 'Are you going to sing today?'" she said. Dr. Fellman grew up in a mu- sical family; his father and mother were both piano players, and his grandparents were musicians as well. He began taking classical piano lessons at the age of 9 and has not stopped playing since. Three glaucoma specialists perform in a band during their annual holiday party T he annual Christmas party at Glaucoma Associates of Texas is different than most. At this Dallas-area practice, 3 physicians do more than share gifts and eggnog— they share their musical talents with staff, family, and friends. Five years ago, Ronald Fellman, MD, Davinder Grover, MD, and Tosin Smith, MD, formed a band—the IOPs, or Intraocular Pleasures—and began a tradition of playing at their practice's holiday party. Each physician brings a different musical specialty to the mix: Dr. Fellman plays the piano, Dr. Grover the tenor saxophone, and Dr. Smith performs the vocals. "I think as doctors, you can do a lot to make your staff feel good," Dr. Fellman said. "When you get in front of them and try to create some music, it certainly creates an atmosphere that is unique in the practice." In an interview with EyeWorld, Drs. Fellman, Grover, and Smith shared the story of how they formed their band and the important role that music has played in their lives. "Music has a way of calming the soul," Dr. Smith said. "It's not easy being a glaucoma specialist, so it's an outlet, to be able to play or sing and relax." Bringing the band together Music has been a part of each phy- sician's life since adolescence. Dr. Smith began singing in the choir in middle school and high school and continued to sing even after becom- ing a practicing physician. "I sing all the time; I even sing to my patients when I operate," she Ophthalmologists connect with staff and patients through music December 2015 The IOPs, from left: Dr. Grover on the tenor sax, Dr. Fellman on the keyboard, and Dr. Smith on vocals Source: Davinder Grover, MD continued on page 86

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