TowerTalk Volume 9 Issue Nr. 1, April 1987

              2 nWKKTALK
Getting To Know You
Vic Davis Makes Science,
Nature Work For Him
Life is a puzzle to Victor Davis, but
scientist that he is, he enjoys
studying it, understanding how the
pieces fit together, and searching
for missing pieces that will make
it whole.
Vic Davis has been a pharmacist for
fourteen years, nine of them here at
SJH, and his job furnishes him with
many puzzles each day "One of the
things I love about my job," he says,
"is the fact that it is in a constant
state of flux. Things constantly
change, therapies change."
Before he could start solving the
puzzles that pharmacy presents, Vic
had to solve the puzzle that would
lead him into pharmacy. He gradu-
ated from the University of Colorado
with a degree in biology, chemistry,
and geology. After he finished his
degree, however, he worked in con-
struction for two years before
deciding to return to school for a
degree in pharmacy.
But if others would consider the two
false starts as time wasted, Vic
doesn't. He works it all into his life.
"All of the things I've been interested
in fit together with each other," he
says. For example, Vic has used his
construction experience to put two
additions on his home and is cur-
rently remodeling the kitchen.
He continues his interest in natural
science through his hobby. "I like
hobbies that have a low impact on
nature," he says. "Sailboats go with
the wind, and nobody is using it;
kayaking uses gravity." Kayaking is
his latest hobby, and he is planning
a trip down the Green River soon.
"When I'm on a kayaking trip, I can
study plant and animal life and the
geology of the area. You can go
through a wilderness area and never
see or leave a footprint," he says.
Vic tried sailboating, canoeing, and
white-water rafting before he settled
on kayaking, and he finds it com-
bines the best elements of all those
sports.
Because of his interest in water
sports, Vic and Robert Valuck,
Pharmacy intern, organized a river
raft trip for pharmacy staff members
and friends. Francine McFadden,
who has worked with Vic for more
than eight years, and her husband
joined the trip.
Although Francine said she was not
an experienced rafter, she had no
fears about safety on the trip
because she knows that anything
that Vic does, he does thoroughly.
Valuck praises Vic for his
competence. "We call him the
outdoorsman. Even though I have
been a professional Whitewater
guide, it was Vic who was always
prepared. When we wanted to start
a fire, he came up with a hatchet and
hand lens. He's one to always say,
'Hey, what if...' "
Francine says he is a knowledge-
able pharmacist and well liked by
his coworkers.B
Speech,
Hearing
Classes
This spring the Neurodiagnostic
Department will offer two programs
of interest to employees.
Beginning Sign Language will meet
for six one-hour sessions from 2:30
to 3:30 on Wednesday afternoons.
The course is an introduction to
American Sign Language, including
the alphabet and basic functional
vocabulary. General strategies for
effectively communicating with a
deaf patient also will be discussed.
For more information, please call
Nancy or Beth at extension 7021.
The second program deals with
accent modification. Accented
speech, whether the accent is foreign
or regional American, can some-
times hinder communication, job
advancement, or social opportu-
nities, but accents can be changed
by adjusting intonation patterns
and the pronunciation of vowels and
consonants. If you would like to
modify your accent, the Neuro-
diagnostic Department has a
program you may be interested in.
The department will begin a class
this spring for four people. The class
requires one hour each week for two
months and daily practice. It will be
held in the Neurodiagnostic Depart-
ment on the third floor of the
Hospital. Cost will be $20 per hour
and $4 per week for rental of audio
tapes. Employees receive a 20
percent discount.
If you are interested, call Beth at
extension 7021.�
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