Reno, NV – Two of Northern Nevada's top neurosurgeons have found unique ways to keep their bodies and minds in top form for the rigors of spine and brain surgery. Dr. Joseph Walker and Dr. Hilari Fleming of Sierra Neurosurgery Group each train and compete in demanding athletic endeavors that also help them perform in the OR.
Dr. Joseph Walker, a founding partner of Sierra Neurosurgery Group, finds fitness and satisfaction for his competitive side in the water. A former triathlete, Dr. Walker continues to compete as a swimmer and trains with the Sierra Nevada Masters swim club. In 1999 he won the National Open Water Championship.
In addition to keeping him in top physical shape, swimming is also a great way for Dr. Walker to let go of the stress of the operating room. "I've always loved competitive athletics", explains Dr. Walker, "Swimming keeps me fit and provides a way for me to decompress away from the operating room."
Dr. Walker's Sierra Nevada Masters team just competed in the Trans Tahoe Relay Invitational on July 19. The event required the six-person team to swim the 11.5 mile width of Lake Tahoe in its icy waters without a wetsuit (they are not allowed). The team placed 31st of 147 teams entered. Next, he’ll compete in the Donner Lake Swim for the 22nd year in a row.
Dr. Hilari Fleming, another partner at Sierra Neurosurgery Group, also competes in a demanding sport. However, many of her demands are on her horses Coeur de Vie and Don Ricardo. As a member of the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the California Dressage Association, Dr. Hilari Fleming and her horses compete in dressage shows throughout the West.
Dressage is a very exacting style of horseback riding that requires the rider to guide her horse through a series of exercises using subtle leg and hand movements. Training is rigorous and competitors are judged on their precision and grace. This summer, Dr. Fleming competed in the Dressage in the Sierras Show in Washoe Valley placing first in 3rd level test 3 and second in 3rd level test 2.
Dr. Fleming has been doing dressage for 20 years and finds it both an excellent way to unwind from her work as a surgeon in Reno’s leading neurosurgical practice, and a great way to exercise her concentration and fine motor skills. "Dressage is a precision sport," explains Dr. Fleming, "The most subtle leg squeeze can guide a horse in a dozen different ways. I enjoy finessing that communication with my horse. And riding helps me relax and keep my life in balance."
Doctors Walker and Fleming are two of the nine accomplished Board Certified surgeons at Sierra Neurosurgery Group. Established in 1979, Sierra Neurosurgery Group is the region’s largest neurosurgical practice providing care for the spine, brain and peripheral nervous system throughout Northern Nevada and Northeastern California.
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