Where were you born and raised;
San Marcos Texas at the Air Force base . Father in Air Force. Grew up in Texas, Mississippi,
California, Japan, Florida, Kansas,
Educational background; numerous schools till high school graduated choctawhatchee high
school in ft walton Bch fl , attended okaloosa walton jr college, then univ of Florida
gainesville for degree in basic biological and medical sciences, medical school, and residency
in anesthesia. Spent time in Houston Texas at Texas heart for cardiovascular anesthesia
fellowship and at Shands hospital in Gainesville for neurosurgical anesthesia fellowship
Brief employment history: Shands hospital univ of Florida faculty, then 9 months at alachua
general hospital in Gainesville Florida . Moved to spokane and joined anesthesia group
working at sacred heart hospital 85-2012. Now work for providence medical group since 2012
Earliest horse memory: riding my great uncles pony who liked to run off, put his head down
fast so he could pull you off his back (no saddle of course) learning to saddle a horse in
Amarillo Texas —the cowboys gave me a pancake saddle (English) since I couldn't lift a
western saddle up on the horses back about first grade . Riding at Fuchinobe riding school in
Japan to ride cross country, stadium and dressage (junior high) riding at wimberely riding
school in niceville florida thru high school. Riding at the horse teaching unit at the univ of
Florida college of agriculture . Buying my first horse as I was finishing medical school in
1981-‘Brick’ did jumpers, then Evented, then made it to Grand Prix in dressage and gave my
daughter her first trail rides and lunge lessons.
Hobbies other than riding: hiking, running, photography, writing, family trips and travel,
supporting my daughter's activities , reading when I can stay awake long enough too, learning
new things and subjects (the constant annoyance of my family) visiting battlefields ,
gardening, newest—welding
Heroes and inspirations; the person facing a devastating diagnosis who continues to inspire
others and live a life filled with gratitude and wonder. My mother and my father. Mrs
almond my high school math club advisor and calculus teacher. Mr moriwaki my Jr high
science teacher members of the generation that fought in WWII and came back home,”I just
did what I had to”, no praise expected or needed or received Women who led in traditional
male fields
Anything folks would be surprised to learn about you: that I am trained in acupuncure and
love helping people with eastern as well as western trained medicine that I have two
younger sisters and three sisters that died shortly after birth.
That I am a soft heart and always have a menagerie of rescued animals. That I have a pet
chicken, henny penny, who knocks on the kitchen door to come in for dry cat food and joins
my two dogs and two cats for breakfast some days
Where do you hope to be in 10 years the green side of the grass , visiting with my daughter
maybe even a grandkid to play with , riding and traveling
Christel carlson