EW IN OTHER NEWS
86
December 2015
in medical school, but then took an-
other break until he joined Glauco-
ma Associates of Texas. After joining
the practice, he, Dr. Fellman, and
Dr. Smith found that they shared a
common musical interest.
"I was new to the practice," Dr.
Grover recalled. "Dr. Fellman was
always into music, and it came up
that I played the sax, and then it
came up that Dr. Smith had a beauti-
ful singing voice, and we thought,
'Why not perform at the Christmas
party?'"
The 3 physicians began practic-
ing together in the office, but after
so much time away from the sax,
Dr. Grover found it difficult to play
again.
"I hadn't played in a couple of
years, and I don't think my wife ever
heard me play," he recalled. "That
first time I played, I couldn't play for
more than 10 minutes. So I prac-
ticed at home every day. Because
I was new to the practice, it really
helped me to get to know Ron and
Tosin better and helped everyone to
get to know me."
After that first year, the IOPs
made their performance an annu-
al event for their holiday party of
around 50 staff members and their
families. They play Christmas clas-
sics such as "Amazing Grace," "Deck
the Halls," and "Have Yourself a
Merry Little Christmas."
Despite their long histories
with music, the physicians consider
themselves to be novices and limit
their yearly show to a short set of
songs. "We don't want to torture our
staff too much," Dr. Grover said. "At
the holiday party, we come to hang
out and have fun, so it's a good little
intermission just to play a couple of
songs."
Dr. Fellman enjoys the fact
that his staff members get to see a
different side of him, Dr. Grover,
and Dr. Smith. "It lets them know
that we're not great at everything,"
he joked.
Music as a grand unifier
Music has allowed the 3 doctors to
bond in a way that many colleagues
often don't. "When you get togeth-
er with other doctors and you do
something besides practicing medi-
cine, it creates a camaraderie that's
unique," Dr. Fellman said. "It brings
a different type of harmony to the
practice, and we like that."
Drs. Fellman, Grover, and Smith
have one more thing in common—
they share their love of music with
their children. Dr. Smith's son plays
the guitar and her daughter plays
the piano and violin, and Dr. Grover
makes sure to play the saxophone
for his 2 children at least once a
week.
"After the band formed, I
came to realize how much I missed
playing the sax," Dr. Grover said. "I
think it's such an important part of
a child's development, to be exposed
to music early on, so we're always
listening to music and playing mu-
sic—they're my motivation now."
Dr. Fellman enjoys composing
music with his daughter, and the 3
physicians now write original music
to accompany their surgical videos.
"When we sit down and try
to write music, it's a lot like when
we try to improve surgery," Dr.
Fellman said. "It's like trying to get
something to be the best it can, in a
creative way, that's better than what
was before. People ultimately will
enjoy it, one way or the other." EW
Contact information
Fellman: rfellman@glaucomaassociates.com
Grover: dgrover@glaucomaassociates.com
Smith: olutos@yahoo.com
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Ophthalmologists continued from page 85
Do you have a hobby, interest, or sideline
work that might be of interest to your
fellow ophthalmologists?
Please contact Amy Goldenberg,
amy@eyeworld.org, with your idea for possible
future inclusion in the "In other news" section.
In other news
"
When you get together with
other doctors and you do something
besides practicing medicine, it
creates a camaraderie that's unique.
It brings a different type of harmony
to the practice, and we like that.
"
–Ronald Fellman, MD
