Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/473041
t m c » p u l s e | m a r c h 2 0 1 5 10 TMC SPOTLIGHT ANTHONY E. BRISSETT, M.D., DIRECTOR OF FACIAL PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, CO-DIRECTOR OF AESTHETICS, AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, TALKS ABOUT HIS MISSION WORK IN RWANDA, AND HOW A CHILDHOOD SPENT PLAYING HOCKEY INSPIRED HIS MEDICAL CAREER. Q | Can you tell us about your formative years? A | My journey began as far north as a person can go in the contiguous United States, or even farther north. I was born and raised in Canada, in a small hockey town (Kitchener) with about 200,000 people, just outside of Toronto, in the province of Ontario. My hometown was uniquely interna- tional and diverse, with multiple ethnic groups representing almost every span of the world, with a largely German, Caribbean and British influence. My parents were both born on the island of Jamaica, and later moved to England before finally settling in Kitchener- Waterloo, Canada. Needless to say, as a young boy, my mom's British expo- sure strongly impressed upon me the importance of proper social etiquette, table manners and social skills, which I continue to appreciate now as an adult and pass onto my children. Like most Canadian boys, I grew up playing a lot of ice hockey and watching a ton of NHL professional hockey teams. In fact, my hometown was home to a success- ful Canadian Hockey League team: The Kitchener Rangers. I recognize now, that it is likely no accident that I selected a specialty—facial plastic surgery—that focuses on facial aesthet- ics and reconstruction, given my early years as a hockey player, and exposure and observation of some significant facial traumas experienced in the sport of hockey! Q | It sounds like you had a unique blend of cultural experiences that influenced your childhood. A | Having lived in Ontario, Canada, amongst a rich cultural backdrop, and myself being a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, along with parents of British and Caribbean roots, I really enjoy meeting people from diverse backgrounds in my community, and also have a deep appreciation for the global community and world travel. Having travelled internationally on several medical/surgical mission trips, I not only get the opportunity to see