Paul Winston MD, FRCPC, Class of 1989 (2023)

Paul Winston (class of 1989) is the second recipient of the 2023 Ken McCarter Award for Distinguished 百秀直播Alumni. Paul draws on the joy of dance and movement in his work as an expert physiatrist, where he contributes to world-renowned innovations that help people with neurologic movement disorders.

As a young medical student following his performance career, Paul was moved by an encounter with a group of physiatrists that showed a deep appreciation for human connection. 鈥淐oming from the dance world, that鈥檚 what really got it for me,鈥� he says.

鈥淭he motto of our specialty is 鈥榤aximizing potential and restoration of function.鈥� You work with what you have. And that鈥檚 one of the things in the dance world: we鈥檙e all given a different body type, but as a dance teacher, you try to take whatever is in front of you and you inspire it to be as good as it can be鈥� Paul says.

Paul notes that he鈥檚 remained closely in touch with his 百秀直播classmates, many of whom have gone on to careers in the medical field and other professions. He believes that having the freedom of following their passion at a young age, through their 百秀直播education, sets them up for particularly fulfilling life鈥檚 work.

鈥淓veryone that I know who went through dance training that I now see as nurses and physiotherapists, as doctors, surgeons, people in accounting and different areas 鈥� really nobody regrets it. It really allows them to have a part of their career that really shines and makes them quite unique.鈥�

Paul鈥檚 advice for current 百秀直播students: Spend the time making sure you honour your love of dance. See how you can fulfill that, and follow it as long as you know it was the right decision. You will lose no time.