How to Call After Hours
If you have called lately, you have noticed the new phone system which directs you how to call me on my cell phone. This is just for after hours, so please use the office phone number during the day.

As usual, you can always get an appointment for the same day that you call, but we do need you to call ahead, and not just walk in. Just call our 24-hour number 782-7577. I am here 5 days a week, but have my cell phone at all times, 7 days a week. If I happen to be out of town, you can still call the same number, and  Dr Watson will be filling in for me.

If you call at lunch time, you don't need to page me for an appointment (unless it's an emergency!). Just wait a half hour and call again when we are back from lunch. 

Milestone for Dr Rick
In July 2010 Dr Rick won his 7th World Championship at the PDGA Disc Golf Championships in Crown Point, Indiana.

Another New Vaccine Schedule!!!
As usual, vaccine schedules keep shifting. The new Hepatitis A series can be started any time after 1 year of age, so I have decided to give the first dose at the 15-month check up. The second dose can be given 6 to 12 months later. It can be given to older children as well. If your insurance covers the Hepatitis A vaccine, let us know, and we can start the series.

Also, it has been shown that many lives could be saved by moving up the infant vaccines to every 6 weeks instead of every 2 months. So instead of 2, 4, 6 months we will try for 1 1/2, 3, and 4 1/2 months.

New Meningitis vaccine now available

The new Meningococcal vaccine is here, and can be given at any age after 11 years. We will start giving it with the 6th grade physical, but older kids can get it too, when they get their check-up. Just call for an appointment.

We also have the new HPV vaccine for preventing cervical cancer. Girls over age 9 can get the vaccine, which is a three-shot series. The state vaccine program will only cover girls at age 11 and 12, so we are giving it with the 6th grade physicals.

Dr Voakes Teams up with Innova
As a pro athlete, Dr Voakes is sponsored by the largest disc golf company, Innova Discs. You can see Dr Voakes on the Innova web page at:  INNOVA DISCS.

Another new CD from Renaissance Robot!

I'm really proud of my latest CD, which features my radical interpretation of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. I figure Beethoven was a werewolf, and when the moon came up just before the third movement, he transformed and the music went nuts! If you are familiar with the "Moonlight" you know what I mean! I tried to put a sound sample on the web page but my software is not working! (sorry)

Electronic classical music made its debut in the 60's with Switched-On Bach, but despite the huge advances in electronic music technology, there have not been any new all-electronic classical CD's. I have arranged several of my favorite classical pieces for the electronic instruments that exist in the cyberspace of my computer. This CD features works by Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart. All are my own original arrangements, and all the parts are played by me, and layered together on my computer.

I called it Renaissance Robot, not because it has any Renaissance music, but because it is a rebirth of electronic classical music. You will find that the instrumentation is much more mellow and sounds more like traditional instruments than the music heard in Switched-On Bach. I guess the "Robot" refers to the programmed sounds from my Roland synthesizer that accompany my lead parts, played in multiple layers on my Yamaha wind controller.

Ernest Hogan Ragtime Music

After years of studying the music of ragtime music pioneer Ernest Hogan, I have recorded my own arrangements of 16 of Ernest Hogan's songs. I performed these songs using electronic instruments, but made to sound like instruments of Ernest Hogan's time: piano, banjo, trumpet, horns, tuba, and string bass. There's a surprise instrument on the last song! Click here to learn more about Ernest Hogan.

"Congratulations on a terrific job. I keep it in the car
 and it always gives me a lift to play it."
----Ray Buckberry

Take the Wii Fit Challenge!
Sylvia and I have a new Wii Fit game at home. I'm quite impressed at the fitness opportunities that it gives! The board measures your BMI and many other tests of fitness.

You can maintain or get to a healthy weight, but far beyond that, you can get to a high level of fitness by fine tuning your muscle strength, coordination, core muscles, reflexes and endurance.

The game encourages you to go at a healthy pace, and to continue to put in your minutes every day. It's fun to try to set new records for all the dozens of different challenges.

The game assigns you a fitness age each day, depending how well you perform certain tests. Sylvia holds the record at our house, at 48 years under her actual age. I am still able to score in the low 20's on good days.

 
The Voakes Clan at Lake Tahoe: Paul, Brian, Katie and Dr Rick.

Dr Rick Wins 7th World Title
Dr Rick defended his world title at the 2010 PDGA World Championships in Crown Point, IN.  Sylvia also has 7 world titles.

Final hole: Snapper Pearson of California congratulates Dr Rick after the tournament.

Sylvia Inducted into Hall of Fame
Sylvia was one of two golfers to be inducted into the PDGA Disc Golf  Hall of Fame in 2005 at the World Championships in Allentown PA. Her accomplishments are listed in the Hall of Fame in Augusta GA, and will soon be on the Hall of Fame web site.

Sylvia gets a hug from fellow Hall of Famer Ken Climo at the ceremony.

Our Trip to Yellowstone National Park We spent two weeks in June at Yellowstone and around Wyoming. Sylvia liked the animals the best, and we got some good photos. Fortunately, no "close encounters" with the bears.
Baby black bear climbing a tree.	Momma black bear.
Brown bear.	Moose.
Grizzly bear.

 

Sylvia Honored at Augusta Dr Rick's portrait of Sylvia (painted in 2008) was recently hung at the main hall of the International Disc Golf Center in Augusta, GA. The Center is the home of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame, where both Dr Rick and Sylvia are inductees. Here is Sylvia with Brian Graham, the Executive Director of the PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association). See full Hall of Fame Biographies for Dr Rick and Sylvia.		Dr Voakes Completes 50th Preceptorship Dr Rick has been on the volunteer faculty of UK, University of Louisville and Vanderbilt University medical schools for the last 25 years. He accepts 1 to 3 preceptorships each year, taking on a student for 1-2 months of intensive instruction in pediatrics. Donnell Carson, PA student at UK, completed his preceptorship with Dr Voakes in January 2009.