Life outside of medicine

Hair Transplant Forum, November-December, 2000, by Jim Harris, M.D.

Some people wish to relive the pleasures or memories of their youth. Bradley R. Wolf, MD, has done more than wish, he has made his desires a reality. Dr. Wolf spent 12 years of his youth on 116 acres of land in rural Indiana, where his family raised beef cattle, Herefords, and German Shepherds. While his recollections of baling hay, digging fencepost holes, cutting firewood, and tending to the cattle remind him of the physical nature of this type of life, he also has the memories of the other side, the stability of a rural setting (he had the same school bus driver for 12 years). The farm is still owned by the family to this day. The work that typified his day not only provides the recollections of hard physical labor but also instilled a work ethic that firmly places rewards, both personal and professional, within the reach of those who work hard enough.

Dr. Wolf eventually left the farm, perhaps looking for those things that the country life couldn't provide. After 20 years and living in different cities around the country, he found what would allow a return to his "roots," 25 acres of land. Dr. Wolf currently lives on this property where he has built his horse farm near his practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. He enjoys what many of us harbor as fantasies, such as riding tractors and horses. The tractor is used for many of the farm chores, such as taking in hay, but he also uses it for something related to hair transplantation. He says that many of the ideas he has written about regarding hair transplantation have come to him while he is sitting on his tractor. Inspired by the surroundings-nature, horses and deer running through the fields-his creativity becomes apparent in his writings.

He also relishes the time spent with his four horses. Not just for the enjoyment of riding, but for what he can gain from watching them. Caring for them requires the ability to sense the status of their health from observing them. He feels that he has been able to develop this ability and that this has helped him in his practice as he is more acutely attuned to the psychological well being of his patients and the non verbal messages that the patient may be expressing.

In addition to his four horses, four cats, and a significant amount of yard work, Dr. Wolf picks up a polo mallet and plays in an occasional polo match. He was raised in a polo playing family and has been riding horses since he could walk. Dr. Wolf describes polo as a sport unto itself involving all the aspects of competition including offense, defense, strategy, team play, and technical aspects such as ball striking and horsemanship. The player not only has to know about the sport, but about the horse and its care as well. He describes the unique exhilaration of riding a speeding thoroughbred full speed and leaning over to hit a ball through goalposts for a score. Although polo is an important part of his life, personal and professional demands have diminished the amount of time he can devote to this. It is doubtful that the memories of the smell of leather, the camaraderie, the physical activity, and the union with the horse will soon be forgotten. He feels fortunate that he had the opportunity to be a participant in this sport.

Besides Dr. Wolf's Cincinnati practice, he also has a practice in Aspen, Colorado. So as not to be away from the lifestyle he enjoys so much, he also owns a five-acre farm in Carbondale, Colorado. He plans on having horses on this property in the future, but for now he'll just enjoy the mule deer, coyote, and elk that roam the property.

Dr.Wolf sees many things that hair transplantation and farming share. He envisions both with crops of sorts, the planting involving hard work and patience. The realization of the fruits of labor emerging on different types of fields gives the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Dr. Wolf has been in the field of hair restoration for over ten years, enjoying the diversity of what seems to be a very focused specialty. Taking what he has studied in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, art, and architecture, along with the mechanical and agricultural lessons learned on the farm. Dr. Wolf has been able to provide the entire hair transplant community with a unique and truly valuable perspective: the view from the tractor.

©2001 ISHRS