Setting
Posted at 11:46 am.
“If you are in a shipwreck and all the boats are gone, a piano top buoyant enough to keep you afloat that comes along makes a fortuitous life preserver. But this is not to say that the best way to design a life preserver is in the form of a piano top.”
- R. Buckminster Fuller
Work of the mind
I work at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, one of the largest medical schools in the United States.
My primary appointment is as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education (DME), the longest continuously-operating medical education unit in the world (founded in 1958). 
In honor of its 50th anniversary, I recently served as managing editor for Moving Medical Education Forward, a collection of reprinted works by the DME faculty. DME is unique not only in its long history of innovation in educational development and research, but also in its eclectic collection of social scientists, educators, and humanities scholars — my colleagues, of whom I am unabashedly fond. DME is a World Health Organization collaborating centre for education in the health professions, and DME faculty members engage in considerable international consulting; I have had the privilege of working in Brazil and Pakistan. I joined DME in 1997.
I am also a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, where I teach evidence-based medicine and research career development.
UIC is located west of the Loop in Chicago, which is truly one of the great U.S. cities.
Work of the Hands
My hobbies include:
- Homebrewing of beer and mead, under the nom de plume of “Se Noyer Brewing”. An older web page with homebrewing information and recipes is here.
- Knitting (especially hats and scarves). I prefer circular needles (especially Addi Turbos) and enjoy aran and fair isle work. An older web page with knitting projects is here.
- My favorite artist is Joseph Cornell, and I’m lucky that the Art Institute of Chicago has many great examples of his work (although lately they’ve been off display). I’ve tried once to do a piece in a similar shadowbox/collage style, which is currently hanging on the wall of a local cafe (sorry, no photo). I hope to continue.
Work of the Spirit
I am a Master Mason, Past Master, and, for 2009-2010, the Sitting Master of Berwyn Masonic Lodge #839 A.F. & A.M. in Berwyn, Illinois. I am also a 32° Mason in the Valley of Chicago, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and a Royal Arch Mason in Lincoln Park Royal Arch Chapter #177. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization dedicated to fellowship, charity, and self-improvement. You can visit the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of the State of Illinois for more information on freemasonry. By custom, Masons don’t ask others to join the fraternity – if you think you’d like to be a Mason, ask one!
