The Catalyst Issue 7 | Summer 2010 | Page 17

Board Member Spotlight Andrejs E. Avots-Avotins, MD, PhD Chairman, Board of Directors Scott & White Healthcare Finding Purpose and Balance Dr. Andrejs Avots-Avotins and his father, Dr. Karlis Avots-Avotins. W hen I was young, my dad would take me fishing. It was a chance to spend time with him, and to get outdoors. I’ll go fly-fishing anywhere and everywhere. I even like to fish in our local streams and lakes. Along with a small group of close friends at Scott & White, I’ve taken fishing trips to Canada, New Mexico, and several other locations. My dad was a general surgeon at the Veterans Administration (VA). And the father of my high school sweetheart, Gail, who is now my wife, was an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist at Scott & White. I had always wanted to be a physician, and I went to college with that intent. I took courses in microbiology and was fascinated with it. The first time around, I wasn’t accepted to medical school, so I gladly pursued my PhD in microbiology, which prepared me to be a sw.org | Summer 10 THE CATALYST 17