Sometimes it’s difficult to make time for hobbies outside of work. Doing so, however, can reduce stress and improve mental and physical health. The Department of Pathology’s Committee for Access and Engagement is on a mission to provide a welcoming environment that fosters the professional and personal development of faculty, staff and trainees. This month, several members from the committee shared some of their favorite hobbies, and why they find them meaningful.
McCleskey, fourth from right, with her wiffleball team
Brandi McCleskey, M.D.
Vice Chair for Education
Associate Professor, Forensics
“I enjoy playing wiffleball with our neighborhood adult summer wiffleball season! We have a women's league and a men's league. It's a wonderful way for the adults (mostly parents) to get together and enjoy some neighborly competition. Nearly 80 men and 60 women play in the leagues. We thoroughly enjoy our neighborhood resources and are always excited to welcome the season of wiffleball summers. My team has won the regular season for the last 3 years, but we are still chasing that Championship Tournament trophy!
In the off-season, I love playing Mahjong! We have a group that tries to play a couple of times a month. It's a wonderful way for my wiffleball friends to continue to gather as well as an opportunity to engage with other women from the neighborhood. Our neighbor introduced us to the game, and we have loved learning how to play over the last few months. It's always fun when we get to yell "Mahjong!" I would love to share this hobby with anyone who wants to play.”
Daniel Tyrrell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Molecular & Cellular Pathology
“I don’t have a ton of time for hobbies with two boys in lots of school activities and a newborn, but I do like to listen to audiobooks. I’ve finished 12 audiobooks this month. I typically like non-fiction, usually more history and biography. I’m trying to either read or listen to one biography of all the U.S. presidents. So far, I’ve listened to Lincoln, Grant, Washington, Jackson, JFK, Adams, George W. Bush, Reagan, Jefferson, Madison, Roosevelt, Taft, FDR, Hoover, Johnson. I still have a long way to go, but I am getting there. I read while I take my dog (and baby) for walks, while I run on the treadmill, and while I’m commuting to and from work.”
Karen Scott, Ph.D.
Director, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory
Associate Professor, Division of Laboratory Medicine
“Balancing hobbies with the demands of work can be difficult, however finding time to do the things that give us pleasure is important for our mental health and morale in these challenging times. Having had a two hour commute in my previous job, I became addicted to audiobooks, and I still listen on my much shorter commute now, but my real passion is theater. I danced from age 4 to my mid-30s, including participating in some musical theater, so I love the whole experience of stage productions from school musicals to big Broadway productions. The initial thrill when the orchestra starts up and the lights go down inevitably gives me goosebumps. A highlight from pre-COVID was when you could have your Playbill signed by the cast at the stage door after the show. I have signatures from both Ewan McGregor, The Real Think, and Hugh Jackman, The River, accompanied by some weak-kneed memories in New York City!”
Dario Vitturi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Molecular & Cellular Pathology
“I enjoy listening to music on vinyl. I love it because listening to music on vinyl forces me to slow down and take the time to actually experience the music. In my case, I like to clean the record and the stylus as well as equalize the sound before I sit down to listen, and while it takes a little bit of time, it puts me in a more receptive frame of mind to enjoy the experience. I really enjoy different styles of music, including 60s R&B, 70s glam rock, 80s pop/alt rock and a few 90s bands too. The 21st century is still way too modern for me!”