When Dr. Suzanne Tanner-Bertrand starts doing pull-ups, the rest of the room takes notice
A pull-up, the fitness kind, is a lifelong goal for some, a true test of their strength and physical prowess. For Dr. Suzanne Tanner-Bertrand, it’s just another exercise at the gym. But because, as she says, she’s “old enough that it is on my to-do list to think about retirement,” it tends to draw some attention. If you’re a member of the Rochester Athletic Club, you might have noticed her on the fitness floor busting out a dozen or so unassisted pull-ups, which she then follows up with two sets on the machine. This is how she begins her workout because, “It’s the exercise I love to hate, so I do it first to get it over with.”
Pull-ups may be a crowd pleaser, but they certainly aren’t Dr. Tanner-Bertrand’s greatest accomplishment. Attending the University of Denver on a scholarship for ski racing and studying to become an orthopedic surgeon stand at the top of her list. And because her fitness interests also include running, biking, playing tennis, and cross-country skiing, it’s no surprise that she specialized in sports medicine. “My goal as an orthopedic surgeon is to help people return to the activities they enjoy, either through operations or advice.”
What’s her motivation? Longevity.
“For several years I have tried to play the piano. That always puts my dog to sleep. I'm confident that I can become skilled, but I just need to live for 120 years!”
Dr. Tanner-Bertrand also learned a valuable lesson long ago about the impact physical fitness had on her life. During medical school, she quit working out for a month as part of a personal experiment, thinking that it would allow for more study time. “Going to medical school, the saying is, it’s like getting a drink out of a fire hydrant. You feel so overwhelmed. I learned that I didn’t do any better in the classes, and I realized that exercise is just as important mentally or emotionally as it was physically.”
Dr. Suzanne Tanner-Bertrand
One would think that someone who has achieved so much in her life already is driven by creating and then masterfully reaching her goals, but her views on this technique might surprise you.
“I have mixed views on goals. On one hand I think goals are good to keep you disciplined and keep you on the program, but other times, if someone sets a goal too early in life, you may miss opportunities along the way because you are so narrow mindedly focused.”
But sometimes keeping a keen focus pays off, especially when treating patients. “I provided a woman from North Carolina at Mayo Clinic with treatment options for her knee disorder, discussed exercise options, and we set a weight goal for her. A year later she returned, stating that she had followed the advice and ‘it had changed her life’ in a very favorable manner. That was gratifying.”
What advice does she have for the rest of us trying to stick with a program to reach our fitness objectives? “You have to find activities you like to do. Just having a New Year’s Resolution, you’re not going to stick with it.” And her advice on mastering the pull-up? “Make sure you have really skinny legs. Skinny legs is the key!”
Jennifer L. Davidson is a freelance writer and youth creative writing instructor. She is also the owner of Rochester Writing Lab.
Cover photo by William Forsman
