Rod Tanchanco
Rod Tanchanco writes medically-themed nonfiction focused on historical events and their human narratives. FIRST PATIENTS: The incredible true stories of pioneer patients launched in March 2022, His articles have appeared in numerous publications. He is an internist and has worked as a primary care physician, hospitalist, research doctor, and medical director for a global clinical research organization. He is also a champion archer, avid photographer, backyard bird-watcher, husband to a saint, father to two grown children, and loyal butler to a ridiculously cute cavapoo.
Twitter: @rodtmd
Instagram: @rtanch22
Do you have another artistic outlet in addition to your writing? Do you sew? Paint? Draw? Knit? Dance?
I shoot arrows. I know, maybe it’s not exactly an artistic outlet, but to me, it is. There is an art to even the very technical sports, archery included. And like all art and all sports, it is never mastered but a never-ending quest to experience as many perfect moments as possible. Archery led me to meditation – those zen-y exercises in awareness and breathing that help develop the focus, calm, and mental game that archery demands. My wife assures me that it has made somewhat of a positive difference in my attitude , so to keep her happy, I keep shooting. I only wish I had tried it sooner than the tardy age of 54. In any case, I must be enjoying the sport as I found myself on the U.S. Team in 2019 and training hard for a competition in Mexico. Then this thing called COVID happened and the event was cancelled. But that’s another story.
Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?
I know it well, although I did not know there was a name for it. Some people may find that odd since I am a doctor. In my defense, Imposter syndrome is not a recognized disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5); which is not to say it doesn’t exist. New conditions get added all the time (social communication disorder or SCD was added to the latest edition- I hope I don’t have that too), so it won’t be surprising if Imposter Syndrome eventually makes the list. But I’ve digressed. The syndrome felt very real to me as an author probably because it seemed ambitious and pretentious to think that I could string enough words into a coherent book. But it was also a personal challenge and something I was determined to keep out of the “should have done” pile.
Not all books are for all readers… when you start a book and you just don’t like it, how long do you read until you bail?
This question brings up images of people reading my book and bailing. It’s that Imposter Syndrome rearing its doubting head again. Anyway, since I have a bit more empathy for authors, if the book is not working for me, I still stick around longer than I care to. Not finishing a book will always feel like unfinished business, like not fulfilling a contract, so I plod on. But if I’m finding myself in the same chapter after a week or so, then I set it aside and tell myself that I have done all that I could. Someone did breach the contract, but it wasn’t me.
Is there another profession you would like to try?
I was never a fan of motor racing until recently when we discovered the Netflix documentary on Formula One racing. I thought it was quite well made and had the elements that were interesting to me: compelling “behind the scenes” narratives of the drivers and team principals, really cool technology, and gripping video sequences of the actual races which held more significance and drama given the back stories. So, in my fantasy world I am one of the drivers in what I consider the coolest car racing sport. It must be a blast to stand on a podium, shake a humongous bottle of champagne and spray the heck out of everyone with it. Pure, messy joy.
If you could create a museum exhibition, what would be the theme?
Humans laughing. Imagine walking through a museum with an exhibition of nothing but laughing people-in photos, videos, sculptures, paintings, caveman drawings, hieroglyphics, any and all art forms, from all cultures, all time periods, all social levels, in every situation. What could be more unifying, hopeful, and uplifting?
