Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 21/02) - Dr. David Wong wanted to a doctor since the age of three, but that's not all. He also owns the Monkey Tree Family Restaurant and Joie de Vivre spa. The Yellowknifer spoke with him recently.

Dr. David Wong

Yellowknifelife: Do you think Yellowknife is a good place to run a family practice?

David Wong: Yes. There is more freedom here. I can dictate what I want to practice.

Yellowknifelife: How does it compare to a practice in a larger city?

DW: We are a big centre. A small community would be like Hay River or Lutsel K'e. In Yellowknife it is more like a big centre.

Yellowknifelife: Do you travel to the smaller communities to deliver medical care?

DW: We only do the fly in and fly out for a few hours.

Yellowknifelife: On any given day, how many patients do you see?

DW: It varies. I would say about 30 to 40 a day. Typically, I start at 9 a.m. and work until 7 p.m. I usually stop seeing patients at about 5 p.m. to do all the paperwork.

Yellowknifelife: Thirty to 40 patients? That seems like a lot.

DW: Not really, it's not too much. I don't have a hard time, but I don't have too much free time.

Yellowknifelife: How did you wind up in the North?

DW: I was in Manitoba, and I knew Dr. (Seamus) McGlynn. He was here nine months ahead of me. He said it was a good place, so why not come up.

Yellowknifelife: You mentioned that Yellowknife is "more like a big centre." Was that what you were expecting you and your family moved up here?

DW: When I first came here I didn't expect any high-rises or anything. It was really shocking to me to see all the tall buildings.

Yellowknifelife: Would you consider Yellowknife to be a fairly cosmopolitan city?

DW: We got a lot more First Nations people, Filipinos, Chinese, Caucasians. It's a good mix.

Yellowknifelife: You are a practising physician, but you also own a restaurant -- the Monkey Tree Family Restaurant -- and a spa, Joie de Vivre. What made you decide to branch out into the business world?

DW: I wanted to be a doctor since I was three years old, but I also wanted more variety. If I just stayed being a doctor I wouldn't really have a life.

Before I got into the spa business I use to go three, four times a week, and it was a good way to relax and enjoy myself. The reason I own it is because I spent too much time there. Now it is very convenient. A lot of doctors are getting into the spa business. It's become a current trend.

Yellowknifelife: Physicians have shown resistance to alternative medicines in the past. Since you own a health spa, do you believe medicine and holistic healing can be combined?

DW: I have a naturopathic doctor working for me. Somewhere down the road we might merge it together.

Yellowknifelife: You must be a pretty busy guy. How do you manage your time?

DW: The clinic takes up much of my time. I need good people to help me in the business. The key thing is to have good staff.

Yellowknifelife: What do you do when you are not working?

DW: I usually hang out here -- Monkey Tree or the spa.

Yellowknifelife: Your wife lives in Richmond, B.C., and your children go to school there. How often do you visit?

DW: I fly down almost every second week. It used to be once a week, but it's too tiring to do that.

Yellowknifelife: Do you think Yellowknife has enough services and in-store products available for the consumer?

DW: I think in Yellowknife, everything I need I can find. Extra Foods has everything. Everything else I need I pick up in Richmond.

Yellowknifelife: What would you like to have in Yellowknife?

DW: A big book store, maybe.

Yellowknifelife: You like to read?

DW: I like magazines, computer books. I really don't have a favourite author.

Yellowknifelife: What would you say gives Yellowknife a definite advantage over living in a big city?

DW: In Richmond everywhere I go I have to spend an hour in traffic. Personally, I cannot stand traffic. It is a personal problem. Here, you can get wherever you want in a hurry.

Yellowknifelife: Do you think you're here to say?

DW: Definitely.