19 minute read
THE DOCTOR Dr. Reid Harrison, health care provider and science teacher
STORY BY TITUS MOHLER PHOTOS BY STEPHEN H. COWLES AND MITZI LUSK
Merriam-Webster indicates that the word “doctor” comes from the Latin word for “teacher.”
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Most would find either occupation of doctor or teacher to be daunting by itself, but Dr. Reid Harrison’s love for teaching has led to him embracing both roles at the same time.
Starting fall 2021, he became a parttime teacher in the science department at Franklin High School while also practicing medicine part time at the Franklin Community Health Center known as the Southeastern Virginia Health System.
“I enjoy it,” he said of the dual role. “It’s just a great opportunity.”
Also enjoying the arrangement has been Franklin High School Principal Travis Felts.
“Dr. Harrison, as far as I know, is the first medical doctor to teach at Franklin High School,” he said. “He brings a wealth of practical experience and content knowledge to our science department. He has a love for teaching and is determined to make a positive difference in our students' lives. Not only does he teach ecology and anatomy & physiology, but he is also our team doctor for athletics. Dr. Harrison has been a great addition to the FHS team.”
With 20 years of experience as a fulltime physician, Harrison’s specialties are internal medicine and pediatrics.
“I did a double residency where I did both,” he said.
He moved to Franklin in August 2020 with his wife, Cyndi, and the youngest of his six children, Samuel, a 10th-grader, and Benjamin, an eighth-grader.
Harrison noted that he came to the city because he was recruited by Bon Secours. He initially worked at Southampton Family Practice, but he said it was not the right position for him.
SUBMITTED | STEPHEN H. COWLES Within the woods behind Franklin High School, ecology teacher Reid Harrison points out another vine that is climbing to reach the sunlight at the expense of a tree.
SUBMITTED | STEPHEN H. COWLES At far left is Reid Harrison, who teaches ecology at Franklin High School. Here he’s taken one of his classes outside for a lesson. Harrison points with a foot at the presence of mole activity, evidenced by raised ridges in the earth. The ground creature burrows through to find worms and grubs while at the same time aerating the earth. This, said Reid, is an example of commensalism; the mole’s actions benefit it but neither help nor hurt the ground. Wearing a red jacket, freshman Nathanie Storey took many notes during the lesson.
DOCTOR, from page 17
After leaving there, he talked with his wife and said, “You know, I don’t know if I want to go and work full time as a doctor anymore. I wonder if there’s some other opportunities.”
He said he has actually done a lot of teaching on a volunteer basis, having taught in the prison system and for an employment agency, and he added that a doctor does a lot of teaching in the course of practicing medicine as well.
“So I’ve always loved teaching,” he said. “That has always been in the background of my desires.”
At the time that Harrison was wondering about other opportunities, his son Samuel mentioned that his science teacher was leaving Franklin.
Harrison had been assisting with coaching duties for sports at the high school, including wrestling, and through this he had gotten to know Felts. He recalled the key conversation they had that led to his life as a teacher/doctor.
“I said, ‘Do you guys need another science teacher?’ And (Felts) goes, ‘Well, yeah, yeah, we’re going to lose our science teacher.’ And I said, ‘Would you be interested if I came as a part-time teacher?’ And he said, ‘What? But you’re a doctor!’ And I said, ‘Yeah, but I love teaching, and you need a science teacher.’ He goes, ‘Let me look into this!’”
Harrison said Felts spoke with Superintendent Dr. Tamara Sterling and then told him to submit an application, noting that the school could fit him into its needs.
“As they say, all the ducks were in a row and all the doors opened, and so I started here in the fall,” Harrison said.
Meanwhile, on the medical side of
DOCTOR, from page 18 things, he also began working part time at the Southeastern Virginia Health System clinic.
At Franklin High School, he is teaching ecology across two classes during the first semester of the 2021-22 school year.
“Then next semester I’ll be teaching a dual-enrollment, college-level anatomy/ physiology (class) as well as ecology,” he said, later noting that his class load will remain at two, with the anatomy/physiology class replacing one of his ecology classes, but it will mean 10 preparations per week as opposed to the five he does now.
His students are mostly freshmen and sophomores now, but all grades from ninth through 12th are represented.
He said he averages between 20-23 students in each of his classes.
Describing his average weekday, Harrison said he goes to school at 7 a.m., teaches his two classes and is done by 11 a.m. He goes home, eats some lunch and then heads to the clinic for a noon-5 p.m. shift, which usually involves seeing 10-12 patients. In the evening, he does lesson planning and grading if he is not able to get to these duties in between patients, and he also sometimes has team doctor responsibilities.
As of early December, he said he was at the clinic Monday-Thursday but noted that he will start adding some Friday afternoon shifts as well.
When adding in his team doctor duties for the high school, Harrison mentioned that he spends more time working for the school than the clinic. As a team doctor, he is often on hand for home sporting events in the evenings, including football and wrestling.
Of his unorthodox arrangement with the school, he said, “We’re making this up as we go.”
When asked what the most challenging thing was about being a teacher/doctor, Harrison’s initial reply reflected the joy he is experiencing in the dual role: “Not enjoying it too much.”
“This has just been incredible,” he said.
He elaborated by saying that the roles allow him to live totally different lives from the morning to the afternoon.
See DOCTOR, page 20
SUBMITTED | MITZI LUSK Dr. Reid Harrison, whose specialties are internal medicine and pediatrics, is seen here at the Southeastern Virginia Health System clinic in Franklin. He sees patients most afternoons during the week and serves as a science teacher at Franklin High School on weekday mornings.
20 western tidewater living DOCTOR, from page 19
He said that in the classroom, he is a teacher talking to 20 teenagers, trying to manage a class, trying to get them to learn something while also helping them feel good about themselves.
“I thought medicine was hard, but teaching is 10 times harder,” he said. “And I’m not saying that tongue-incheek.”
Then he summed up the teaching experience at the clinic.
“As a physician, you’re to teach your patients, but my ‘classroom’ has one patient — usually — in it, and I have total control for that 15, 20, 30 minutes that I have them,” he said. “So it’s a very unique teaching opportunity.”
He said he does not have the same status when he walks into the classroom that he has when a patient walks into his room in the clinic. He noted
See DOCTOR, page 21
SUBMITTED | STEPHEN H. COWLES Christian Cutchins watches from above as his teacher, Reid Harrison, gives an outdoor lesson in the ecology class. The students learned about relationships in nature that can be beneficial or harmful to another in varying degrees.
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DOCTOR, from page 20 that at the school, he is walking into the students’ environment. Whatever the season, whatever the weather, So he ultimately described the hardest part of his dual role as Walters Outdoor Power Equipment managing a classroom at the same time as managing the desire can help with your needs and projects!! to help these kids succeed in life. “And the schedule, that’s nothing,” he said. “Doing both (jobs), that’s easy. Like I said, I love it because I can teach for a couple hours, three or four hours, then I go into my clinic for a few hours. When I’m done, I get to go home, I get to spend time with my family, I can wrestle with my boys. So the lifestyle, it’s the best it’s ever been in my life.” He then highlighted philosophical differences and similarities between the teacher and doctor occupations. “Part of medicine is you’re helping people handle suffering in a way that you either lessen their suffering by healing them, by giving (them) what they need to be healed or just helping them deal with their suffering in the best way possible,” he said. “Education is a way to prevent people from suffering.” He said he realized this difference after just a few weeks of Our trained and certi ed staff can service your working both jobs. Stihl, Toro and Briggs & Stratton equipment and Seniors can stay at home when a Nursing Home is not an option Briggs, Kohler, Honda and Kawasaki engines.But then he also acknowledged the ultimate continuity between his two professional lives: “What I teach in school is the same thing I teach my patients — it’s just how to not suffer and giving them the skills and the know-how and the understanding of living life to its fullest.” WE PROVIDE
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An epic trip on the river
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BILL BILLINGS
The longest trip ever completed by the Tuesday group of the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club was epic. Enjoying 15 miles of quiet water and grand scenery, a dozen members paddled from Barrett’s Landing in Franklin, down the Blackwater River and up the Nottoway River to Dockside.
Our group met at Barrett’s Landing at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 , the weather was a chilly 38 degrees. We unloaded all the boats and began the shuttle to get all the vehicles to Dockside at Battles Beach on the Nottoway River. Fortunately, Vivian Christie and Bobby Turner volunteered to drive the group back to Barrett’s Landing.
The flotilla started paddling a little after nine and went upstream into the turning basin to look for remains of the Civil War steamship Stag that was scuttled during the Civil War to stop Yankee gunboats from getting close enough to shell the railroad bridge across the Blackwater.
Next, the group headed downriver, past the International Paper Mill Complex on the East bank of the river. As we paddled by, an 18-wheel truck was lifted up high into the air to dump the wood chips out of the trailer.
The sunny weather was perfect for paddling under the bright blue November sky. Soon our group came upon the remains of an old barge that had run aground in the river many
Paddlers enjoyed the beautiful fall colors.
RIVER, from page 23 decades ago. I first saw the old barge in 1971, when I first paddled the Blackwater in a kayak that I had made. At the time I took pictures of the barge using infrared film I was experimenting with. Now 50 years later, there is very little left to see — if you didn’t know about it you would probably not even notice it as you paddled by.
The two bridges over the river are interesting landmarks. The first is the beautiful four lane bridge of the Route 58 Bypass south of Franklin. The second bridge, South Quay isn’t a bridge at the present time. The old swing span has been demolished as VDOT is preparing to build a new bridge high enough that it will not have to open and obstruct traffic. We stopped a while and watched the men work on the new bridge.
Reaching the area where Highway 189 is only a few feet from the river we stopped for lunch. It felt good to get out and stretch our legs and eat our lunches. The sun felt good and the company was pleasant but I was a little disappointed with my lunch. When I opened my can of vienna sausages the center sausage was completely missing. Despite that I did have plenty to eat. Sherri McQueen was the true environmentalist and picked up two armloads of trash at our lunch spot.
After lunch we paddled on and came to a high clay bank. River Guard, Jeff Turner, had told us to look for claw marks where bears had climbed up out of the river. We were thrilled when we found the claw marks in the bank.
The fall colors, Spanish Moss, mistletoe, and majestic trees made this a truly satisfying paddle. The temperature had warmed up to 55 degrees. At Smith Bend where the Blackwater River loops abruptly west we tried to see the Nottoway River which at that point was only 100 yards from the Blackwater River. However, we could not see any sign of the Nottoway River through the trees.
Next we paddled to an interesting part of the trip —the misaligned North Carolina/Virginia State Line. For a half-mile as we paddled south, North Carolina was on our left and on the other side of the river was Virginia. It seems that early surveyors were confused by imprecise landmarks. We paddled onto the joining of the Nottoway and Blackwater rivers and were completely in North Carolina and in the beginning of the Chowan River. The Three Rivers!
On the Nottoway River we paddled northwest out of North Carolina back into Virginia and were soon at the Dockside where our vehicles awaited us.
We had made the 15 mile trip in perfect weather and no problems. What a great day on the water! No permits, no waiting in lines, no harassment, no fees, and no robo calls about expiring automobile warranties. We arrived about 4:30 p.m. and still had plenty of light to load boats. We drove back to Franklin and celebrated our epic trip with dinner at Serve restaurant.
Celebrating after an epic paddle at Serve in Franklin, pictured are, from left, Lois Billings, Bill Billings, Bob Adkisson, Kathy O’Loughlin, Richard Tarr, Vivian Christie, Sandra Canepa, Sherri McQueen, Bruce Julian, Ellis Malabad and Marti Malabad.
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26 western tidewater living recipes Tips and tricks for cutting out cookies
Baking is a holiday tradition in many households. The aroma of freshly baked cakes, pies and cookies wafts through the air of many homes this time of year, and that makes the holiday season even more special.
Cookies are a tradition passed down through the ages. In medieval Europe, small, spiced cookies were exchanged as treats, and people still bake and share gingerbread cookies today.
Cut cookies are some of the most popular cookies to make during the holiday season. Some families may have their share of favorite cookie cutter shapes and dough recipes. Certain techniques can make holiday baking sessions easier and ensure consistent results. • Work on a lightly floured, cool surface, such as a cutting board or stone counter top. Never work on a warm surface, which can cause dough to spread and stick. • Roll out the dough between two sheets of baking or parchment paper to a thickness of about 1⁄8 inch, unless noted in the recipe. This prevents the dough from sticking, and parchment enables you to easily transfer rolled-out dough to a refrigerator or elsewhere. • When rolling out dough, portion it out into a few smaller amounts to roll out more easily. This will also help it to chill more readily. • Cookies cut most easily when the dough is chilled. Refrigerate the dough for as long as possible, ideally an hour or more — even overnight. The more chilled, the firmer the dough will be. • Rubber rolling pin rings that slip onto each side of the rolling pin can help ensure that the dough is being rolled out to a uniform thickness. • Dip cookie cutters into flour with each cut. Work from the center and move out to the edges when cutting out your designs. Try to maximize space and avoid scraps and rerolling. • Some expert bakers say that metal cookie cutters cut cleaner than plastic ones. Whichever cutter you use, cut the cookie by pressing straight down; try not to twist or jiggle the cookie cutter when using it. Doughs with a high butter content can help, as the extra grease helps separate the dough from the cutters. • If cut cookies have gotten warmer, place them in the freezer for a few minutes to firm up again and then cook. This will guarantee the cookies will not spread or distort while baking.
Extra steps may seem like they will take a lot of time. However, the extra effort and attention to detail will help produce cookies that win rave reviews.
How to create a durable gingerbread house
Gingerbread cookies and houses are one of the many symbols of the holiday season, alongside Christmas trees and twinkling lights. In fact, few confections symbolize the holidays more so than gingerbread.
Many a child (or a child at heart) has spent hours carefully trying to create decorative gingerbread houses. Although gingerbread recipes span various cultures, gingerbread houses originated in 16th century Germany. The fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” helped solidify the popularity of gingerbread, which became part of Christmas traditions.
Even though gingerbread houses can be fun to make, there’s no denying it can be exacting work — especially for those who strive for perfection. Prepackaged kits attempt to take some of the guesswork out of the equation, but those who are crafting from scratch can employ these tips as they build their gingerbread houses. • Go for form and not flavor. Few gingerbread houses ever get eaten, so focus on finding a dough that will bake up rock hard as opposed to one that tastes good. • Get the right icing texture. Pastry artist Catherine Beddall says royal icing is the preferred “glue” to adhere gingerbread pieces. Beddall says icing should be thick like peanut butter and not runny. • Mind the dough. Do not roll out the gingerbread dough too thin or it may become brittle after being cooked. Always cut out shapes before the gingerbread is baked. Let the baked pieces sit overnight to cool completely before using them to build. • Patience is key. Allow the icing to dry for at least a couple of hours after adhering each piece and before moving and handling the house, says Beddall. Work in stages so that individual items can be decorated and allowed to dry. Then the walls can be put together, followed by the roof pieces. • Kids likely will need help. Children may not have the patience or steadiness to handle complete gingerbread construction. They can decorate the separate pieces of the house while the components are laying flat, which is easier for kids. Adults can do the main assembly later on. • Utilize a template. Free-handing may not be easy. Cut out templates using cardboard or posterboard for various gingerbread pieces.
One of the most important tips is to have fun. Don’t take gingerbread house making too seriously as a novice. Rather, enjoy the experience and the centuriesold tradition.
