Sit back and listen to David Read describe how his hobbies and volunteer activities help him relax. Relaxation is much needed and appreciated because David’s professional life is very busy and stressful.
He serves as the Vice President of Medical Oncology of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, where he leads a team of 1700 clinicians, researchers and staff to offer cutting-edge conventional medical care to cancer patients.
Beyond the challenges of this work, David is a husband and father with a vibrant home life, a community activist and volunteer, an athlete, a filmmaker and an expert woodworker. You will want to delve into his detailed “how to” woodworking videos on Living Whole Online.
I like being in my shop, doing woodworking, figuring things out.
-David Read
David’s motivation for living a full and diverse life is deeply influenced by the fact that he is the first male in his family to live beyond 61 years old. His father passed of a sudden heart attack when David was in his early 20s. David’s younger brother also passed unexpectedly of a heart attack.
The four petals of the Living Whole Flower illustrate the variety
of David’s activities, and you can find his contributions to
Living Whole Online in all four disciplines.
Whole, Plant-Based Food (WFPB): Because of the strong family history of heart disease in David’s family, and David’s interest in scientific research, he has been influenced by T. Colin Campbell’s The China Study and the research of other Facilitators that you can find on LWO, including Neal Barnard, MD and Caldwell Esselstyn, MD.
David describes his transition from an omnivore lifestyle to one focused on WFPB in a podcast with Todd Kurland.
Movement of the Body: David is an avid cyclist, hiker, skiier and hockey player. He rides his bike to work, even during the Boston winters, and is sure to do some kind of movement every day. He is a community activist, volunteering his time to create The East Coast Greenway, a 3,000 mile non-motorized passageway from the Canadian border to the southern tip of Florida.
Mind/Body/Spirit Disciplines: David’s father was skilled in finished carpentry, and when David was in his late 20s, he began learning the woodworking skills that he now shares with us in the Art section of LWO In this podcast, David describes his journey into woodworking, shows some of his exquisite pieces, and takes us on a tour of his woodworking shop.
It gives me joy, just doing woodworking, and it’s very, very therapeutic.
-David Read
David’s inspiring story reflects his passion for being part of Living Whole Online, sharing ways to for each of us to expand our creative horizons so that we can add diversity and richness to our work and home lives.
What we are trying to do with Living Whole is to show the diversity of what people can do to improve their lives.
-David Read