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How The Docs Do It: Physicians Share Their Personal Wellness Routines

Doctors don't just concern themselves with others' health and wellness: They practice what they preach. The Vail Valley is fairly small to have such an elite team of healthcare providers. But they like most of the county's population are interested in living active healthy lives and Vail is the perfect place to do it. Read on to discover some of the medical community's busiest physicians' wellness priorities.

Dr. Jeff Brown MD Pediatric Hospitalist

What are some ways that you maintain your personal health and wellness?
There are the obvious things that I pay attention to — exercise good nutrition good sleep moderate alcohol and caffeine intake as well as a reasonable work schedule.

I try also to keep in mind that it is essential to good health to keep a good work-life balance. Having time with family and friends is key to good health — both physical and mental.

I find that being in medicine can make this difficult since a career in medicine can be like a sponge that is never saturated — it just keeps taking and taking. But if you can maintain a good work-life balance you can have a vibrant and fulfilling career.

Describe your fitness and wellness regimens or your ways of maintaining an active lifestyle.
I try to diversify my activities as much as possible — biking hiking squash golf and others. By diversifying your activities and workouts you can keep your interest and enthusiasm up in regard to staying active.

Any vices?
Sometimes I get tired. When I should be heading to the athletic club I head home for a beer and some down time instead. To fight against this I might eat a Power Bar when I'm leaving work. It gives me the energy to keep the car headed to the club. Also if I arrange to meet folks to do workouts I am reluctant to cancel and this helps my follow through.

Dr. Jamie Gray MD Hospitalist and Internal Medicine

What are the things that you pay attention to in terms of personal health and wellness maintenance?
Diet to me is the foundation of wellness. I try to eat a balanced diet with an abundance of organic fruits and vegetables minimally processed foods and plenty of water.

Regular exercise is incredibly important but I try and respect my body and its natural limits. If I feel fatigued on a particular day I will modify or even skip my workout to honor myself and my well-being.

Happiness is highly under appreciated as a path to wellness. Although there are many circumstances that create chaos in my world I believe I have the ability to navigate these challenges in a way that still brings joy into every day.  When I am successful at this I simply feel better.

How do you stay fit?
I make it a goal to get on my yoga mat at least five times a week. It is not always easy finding time. It may be getting up an extra hour earlier sneaking away during a lunch break or finding a few hours after I put my kids to bed. I realized that when I set this as a goal and I'm flexible about how it happens I can almost always find some time.

Beyond that I just like to play outside. Mountain biking is probably my favorite activity. But close behind are hiking cross-country skiing and more recently taking my skis into the backcountry.

Your vice?
Coffee definitely coffee. And I'm not ready to tackle that one yet.

Dr. Rick Cunningham MD Orthopaedic Surgeon

How do you stay healthy?
Most illnesses in America are lifestyle illnesses. Eating a highly processed animal-based diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol causes heart disease and several cancers. Eating mainly a plant-based diet can significantly reduce your risk of developing these deadly diseases.

What was your New Year's resolution?
I make a massive veggie juice every day and drink it down. I try to get my veggie fix every morning.

Any other tips?
Your mental health is important. Exercise so you sleep well. Surround yourself with friends and family so you have that social support. Mental and physical health are definitely interrelated.

You're a father of four. Are your kids active?
My oldest is a soccer player and my daughters like to swim. Vail is great for kids growing up. There is so much for them to do.

Any vices?
I like my coffee — and chocolate.

Dr. Tracee Metcalfe MD Internal Medicine and Medical Co-Director of Hospice of the Valley

How did you come to Vail?
I moved to Breckenridge after high school. As soon as I saw the beauty of the mountains I knew I had to spend my life in them. I went on to do my undergraduate work at Colorado College and medical school at University of Colorado. My goal has always been to practice medicine in a rural mountain community.

How do you exercise?
My favorite things to do are run and climb mountains or basically anything I can do with my dog Riley. I love running because it's easy to squeeze it into a busy day. You can get a good workout in just 30 minutes and it's easy to find 30 minutes during a lunch break or before or after work. Running is also great because all you really need is a pair of shoes.

You run year-round?
No in the winter the days are short and the roads and trails are slick and dangerous. I prefer to get out into the backcountry and go skinning and skiing instead of running. Much like running skinning is convenient and can practically be done right outside your back door. The mountains are right here and it's great to use what nature has given us rather than go work out inside a gym. When I don't have time to go deep into the backcountry I skin up Vail Mountain.

Do you have advice for new runners (or people just starting to exercise)?
Start slow and stick with it! I still remember when running a mile without stopping was impossible now I have completed five marathons. Same thing with skinning. Skinning to the top of the gondola used to seem like an insurmountable challenge. Recently I finished several backcountry ski races including the 40-mile Elk Mountain Grand Traverse the Teva Games Skimo race and the Power of Two Skimo race in Aspen where my partner and I took first place for the women's teams and second place overall. This spring I will be the doctor on a month-long five-person search and rescue team on Denali. This opportunity would never have been available to me without making exercise and a healthy lifestyle a priority.