THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505120242
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Being a surgeon is a bit akin to being a chef, says Suffolk surgeon Stuart Engel:
``You go into the kitchen, whip up the best pie you can. Sometimes the ingredients are good, and you make a good pie. Sometimes the ingredients stink, and the pie doesn't turn out like you'd like.''
It's the same way in the operating room.
Although being a surgeon isn't like what sometimes is shown on television, Engel admits there's a certain level of anxiety:
``You're asking people who don't know you very well to let you do something that involves some risk.''
Engel came to Lakeview Medical Center on April 3, after working as a surgeon in Providence, R.I. He is a surgeon for Obici Hospital.
Engel said a friend, also a doctor at Lakeview, asked him to consider joining its staff.
When Engel isn't at work, he finds peace and quiet by soaring in a glider.
``It's like sailing in a boat. It's quiet except when you hear the air running over the wings.
``You don't think of anything else but flying when you're up there. You're focused.''
Name: Stuart Engel.
What brought you to Suffolk? A chance to pursue my profession in a growing community with a group of colleagues who believe in excellence.
Hometown: Baltimore.
Birthdate: June 6, 1949.
Occupation: General and vascular surgeon.
Marital status: Married.
Children: Sarah, 7; Rebecca, 6.
Favorite movies: ``The Wizard of Oz,'' ``Repo Man'' and ``Biker Chicks of Zombietown.''
Favorite magazine: ``Scientific America.''
A book you wish everyone would read: The Bible (especially Micah 6:8).
Favorite night out on the town: The opera, followed by a late Italian dinner.
Favorite bar or restaurant: Waffletown.
Favorite food and drink: Black Forest cake.
Few people know I hate accordion music.
Worst habit: I can't read just one book at a time.
Pet: A hamster, Munchkin.
Hobbies: Biking, skiing and soaring.
Ideal vacation: A raft trip down the Colorado River, but without Meryl Streep.
Pet peeve: Gas stations that make you pay before you pump the gas. Have some trust, fellas.
First job: Stocking shelves in a warehouse.
Worst job: Shoveling snow.
What achievements are you most proud of? Helping sick people; eating my wife's first attempts at cooking when we were newly married; teaching my two daughters to ride their bikes.
What would you like on your epitaph? ``Kim Basinger stuck by him till the end.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Stuart Engel
by CNB