The colliding worlds of music and surgery

Jennifer Parraga, BA’93

Sitting on stage next to a grand piano, resident alumnus Dr. Doug Angel felt at home. A classically trained musician, who had spent some time working as a professional musician doing a variety of gigs, working in musical theatre and touring, he was once again in a position where his two passions of music and surgery converged.

“It is a great cause,” said Dr. Angel. “It was called Music is Medicine and it was fundraiser supporting Team Broken Earth, a Canadian medical relief initiative based in Newfoundland and operating across the country.” Along with two other physicians, Dr. Donny Fitzpatrick and Paul Jeon, Dr. Angel organized and ran this benefit as part of a revival of an old Medical School Variety Show.

What made this performance so special was that Dr. Angel was the accompanying pianist for his patient’s first public performance after she had recovered from thyroid cancer surgery.

Born and raised in Newfoundland, Dr. Angel first pursued music, completing his undergraduate studies in piano performance (honours). He always had an interest in pursuing medicine and specifically surgery, so his application to medical school surprised no one. It was part of a shadowing program in medical school when Dr. Angel shadowed Dr. Ken Burrage, also a Western alumni that he became fascinated with Otolaryngology and began to consider it for his career.

“I spent one day with him, and I decided I wanted to do exactly what he was doing. His passion for his work was inspirational,” Dr. Angel said.

It was then that the young physician found himself in London and part of the residency program at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

“It’s the best program in the country, so I really wanted to be there,” he said.

Dr. Angel has nothing but positive memories of being a resident at Western. He says that it’s hard to explain how there is just something different about the program, but credits the mutual respect between the residents and faculty as a contributing factor to Program’s success.

“When you are there you know you are getting the best training in the country, and you know that if you work hard, it will pay off,” he said.

It’s difficult for Dr. Angel to pinpoint his favourite experience from residency, as there are many, but he reflects fondly on the weekly Friday afternoon happy hour sessions that followed academic half days.

“I remember so many of those afternoons, and it really created such a bond with the residents,” he said.

He remains grateful for all the supportive mentors and co-residents who he worked alongside and who helped to create such a strong culture throughout his residency. 

Today, Dr. Angel is an Assistant Professor at Memorial University and is just about to start his fifth year as a faculty member. He is the medical director for Otolaryngology for the undergraduate medical education program, he provides didactic lectures, coordinates third- and fourth-year electives and selectives, oversees general surgery electives and supervises residents. Meanwhile, his clinical practice is primarily focused on head and neck surgery, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, as well as laryngology, with a large part of his practice dedicated to caring for vocalists.

Performing less often, but still passionate about music, Dr. Angel also serves on the Music School Advisory Board for the School of Music at Memorial University; is supervising a PhD trainee working on a research project focused on the vocal training of prepubescent boys; and serves on the fundraising board for the Tuckamore Festival, a world-renowned chamber music festival that happens every August in St. John’s.

When sharing the reasons for his continued involvement, Dr. Angel shared a favourite quote from Malcolm Gladwell that speaks to the connection between music and surgery.

“Music is one of the few vocations that offer a kind of sensory and cognitive immersion similar to surgery: the engagement of hand and eye, the challenge of sustained performance, the combination of mind and motion—all of it animated occasionally by the full force of the imagination.”