This Interview has been in the works for months. Luis Pinzon finally got some time away from being a doctor, planning his wedding, and then getting married to finish up these questions.
I grew up riding with this dude and miss hanging and riding with him almost every day. Pinzon has been one of my best friends and biggest inspiration/motivation for years--can’t praise this guy enough. Here’s a question and answer regarding his current status.
Matt Coplon: So you've been working at the LA County Hospital for the past year; do you ever think "what have I gotten myself into?"
Dr P: Absolutely not. I'm so glad to be out here; especially at LAC+USC. Aside from the perks of living in LA (ie. night life, motorcycling, riding spots), LAC+USC has been the perfect place for me to train. First and foremost, I get to work with the underserved and uninsured patient population, which was really important for me. And second of all, I get to see some of the wild things that are unfortunately part of growing up in the not so glamorous parts of LA. The circumstances that some of these kids have to grow up and survive in are insane. I've had more than a few patients, under the age of 18 mind you, who have been gunned down for no reason at all. The things you hear about South Central LA are true. The gangs out here ruthless. These things are terrible and unfortunate, but since I eventually want to be a Pediatric ER doctor, these are the things I came out here to see.
2.You mentioned that most of the hospital is ran by resident doctors--doctors in training that are highly under paid. Do you feel inspired by those co-workers who sacrifice pay to help the less fortunate? Seems pretty out of the ordinary?
What a lot of people don't realize is that many of these large hospitals are resident run. Which means that the resident, ie. doctor in training, is making most of the decisions with the guidance and supervision of an attending physician (ie. older and wiser doctor who has completed residency). Sometimes the level of supervision is quite small and other times it is not. So essentially, the guy helping your mother survive a heart attack or sewing up your face after you scorpion grind is an overworked resident who's making something in the neighborhood of $5 an hour
It's not really out of the ordinary though; that is the way medicine training has been for many years. Part of being a Resident Physician is working 80+ hours a week and getting paid very little. That’s where the term Resident comes from; in the old days, doctors-in-training actually lived in dormitories at the hospital, hence the name Resident.
That being said, I am inspired everyday by the people I work with... from the people in the cafeteria to the residents in the ER. Especially at our hospital which serves the uninsured. Some families travel from villages in Mexico to reach "El General," which is their term for our hospital, because they know that they will receive care here. Some of them arrive with tumors that have been growing for years. It’s amazing from a training standpoint.
3.Any experience with a patient that has been mind opening/life changing?
A couple of particular patients come to mind when I though about my answer but for the sake of patient privacy, I am not at liberty to discuss particular cases in detail. In general though, its the teenagers that have been the victims of what people might call "random acts of violence." I have had patients that have been paralyzed as a result of this and it just blows my mind that this is the world we live in, yet so few people know about it. The gang culture is alive and thriving here in LA, and in other parts I'm sure. While I've also had teenage gang members as patients, random kids walking home from school and what not have also ended up in our ER as the result of drive-by's or random stabbings. What blows my mind even more, is that I have yet to read or see a news story about this topic. Instead I have to see stories about "Octo-mom" or other nonsense.
I also stitched up local rider in the ER the other night. That was pretty funny.
4. I didn't realize gang activity was still that heavy. Again, like you said, without media hype you'd think everything was kosher....How does this dealing with trauma effect you after hours? Do you just try to tune it out or does it haunt you? I guess that's where riding comes in-It takes your mind off things?
While I think about it a lot when I'm not at work, I don't let it bother me. Plus depending on the rotation I am on I don't see the 'rough stuff’ everyday so it's not like we are bombarded with this stuff everyday especially in Pediatrics. Hats off to my colleagues in the ER here at LA County Hospital; they manage the heavy cases day in and day out. Riding definitely helps with decompressing as well and with the weather being so good here, riding is usually always an option.
5. How much riding time are you able to fit in during the week? I know your rotations are pretty wild sometimes?
That all depends on the rotation I am on. Sometimes its only once a week if I'm lucky and other times its 5 days a week if want to. But ever since my back injury, I am happy just to be on my bike AT ALL! There were 5 months or so there where I thought I would NEVER be able ride again. I couldn't even sit in a car for long at that time so I couldn't imagine hucking it again. Ever since then, I look at every moment I get to spend riding as a blessing. I have more fun when I ride now too. Events like that make you appreciate things much more.
6.There are some days when the rotation calls for a 36 hour shift, right?
Thankfully, the longest shifts we are allowed to work are 30 hours. This is long enough for me! I can't imagine rockin for any longer than that. The majority of our pediatric residency is spent on a "Q4" call schedule which means that every fourth night we are on call and have one of these long 30 hour shifts. It sucks no matter how you slice it.
7.How much time do you have in LA?
So I'm a third of the way through my second of three years of residency. I will be finished in June 2010.
8.What's next? You're plans are to go back for emergency care?
My plans are to train for another three years and sub-specialize in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. I would love to be able to get into one of the few programs out here in Cali. I originally thought this move out West would just be a three year hiatus, but Cali has been treating me so well I wanna stay. Even when I'm hurt and can't ride there is sooo much to do. You can surf, snowboard, or rip motorbikes through the canyons all within a reasonable distance. Plus the riding here in Cali is amazing... the street is amazing... the concrete parks and ditches abound as well. I don't wanna leave.
9. Do you have to re-apply to programs for the emergency medicine portion? Anywhere else besides LA that you're looking at?
Yup. It's a whole other headache of an application and matching process. Not looking forward to it. I would really be happy to match anywhere in California but my heart is in LA at the moment. Did I mention I love it here already.
Eventually, I'd love to be one of the doctors for the x-games and travel with them. With Mega-Ramp and MX going the way its going, they will probably need someone like me on deck. Plus I can identify with a lot of the injuries out there, which not many doctors can say.
10."The way its going?" You mean people testing their limits? It's scary to think what will be next....it seems televised "X-games" type stuff are pushing for people to get seriously wrecked?
The limits are definitely being pushed right now when it comes to events like the x-games and such. Look at what happened to Stephen and then Mikey as well. Jeremy Lusk, an FMX rider, died as a result of a crash during a competition last year. I am into motorcycles too so I keep an eye out for those guys as well.
11.Speaking of getting hurt. You just learned tailwhips recently?
So I've been trying t-whips for years now and getting wrecked pretty consistently. But for the last 2 years or so, I have been trying them every session and getting sort of close. I've been getting tips on them from everyone from Conall, McDermott, Bostrom, Neyer... even Nasty was trying to help me with em’ at Woodward back in February. Then about 3 weeks ago, I landed my first one. It was probably the best 'riding' day of my life. That is probably the hardest I have ever worked at learning a trick. It wasn't the prettiest whip and even now they're not beautiful either. Plus I've never been accused of being the smoothest or most stylish rider out there anyway; I have fun though.
Peep the day in the life of Matt Coplon web video and the new Holeshot web video to see some examples of me body-baggin it and then one of me riding away victorious... haha
12.Where did you land that first whip? I saw it was on cement (after trying it out the bowl in tampa for years...aka "Dirt nap Friday)....and who's been inspiring you to ride?
The first whip was landed at Belvedere, my favorite LA park. I really wanted the first one to be at the Bro-Bowl in Tampa but it just wasn't in the stars. The dudes who I've been riding with the most out here are Nicolas Ferreira (of Holeshot fame) and longtime member of the LWO (Latin World Organization) Al Occampo. I also ride with Bostrom on occasion, which is always a treat. That barney is amazing on a bike and is always having fun; he definitely inspires me to ride as well. In general, everyone I ride with inspires me. Even all the younger East LA kids at Belvedere get me hyped.
13.Lastly, You're getting ready to tie the knot in a month (I'll be flying out to the wedding in Big Sur)....give us a little insight on how you've been balancing things (work, riding, the lady)....It's a pretty inspiring situation for sure.
I find that the busier I am the more chit I can get done. So over the years, more things have made their way on my plate and you just have to make it work. And luckily, work demands come in waves. There will be times when I only get to ride once a week. Then I will be on a rotation where I can ride daily. And the same goes with my wife... there's times where she sees very little of me and others when she sees me a bit too much. And ever since my back injury she has reached a higher level of understanding as to what BMX means to me. She had to deal with me for those months where I thought I'd never ride again and she saw what a grouch I became. So now she is even more understanding when she has to share what free time I do have with my bike. My father-in-law always says "Life is all about balance" when he gets drunk... I think he's right.
14.Shout outs...other than your mom, Maria. I miss watching her dance at your new years eve parties....
Well... A big thanks to my mom for all the support over the years... she has always been supportive of my riding even when Pops wasn't . Definitely have to thank my wife Lindsey; especially for supporting me through the back injury. A big thanks to EVERYONE at Profile for all the support as well. And to all my friends that ride... a big thank you for all the good times. Looking around me now, after college, med school, and now residency... I've met a lot of great people... but my true friends are all the guys I grew up riding with. I don't have any close friends that don't ride bikes or skate.
