Doctor… Professor … Aviator …

Dr. Rick Zabrodski fondly remembers his King City Years as being filled with great friends and teachers. He particularly enjoyed being involved with the theatre arts and band programs. Rick attended McMaster University for his undergraduate degree in biology. He then headed west to the University of Calgary where the snow skiing and hang gliding were rumoured to be amazing. In 1980 he graduated from medical school. The view of the Rocky Mountains was too difficult to leave behind, and he therefore chose to work, play and raise his family in Calgary. Rick has continued to pursue a diverse range of interests since his King City Days. He has worked in various medical fields including emergency, family and occupational medicine. In recent years, he has become more involved in disability and medical legal issues. He also teaches medical students and residents. Rick is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary and maintains a busy practice as a primary health care provider, occupational health consultant, and disability evaluator. He regularly testifies in court as an expert witness and has published several peer reviewed medical articles. In addition, Rick has been a featured speaker, presenter and organizer for several medical conferences throughout the world.

Outside of the workplace, Rick enjoys an active and varied lifestyle, including logging several thousand hours in both motorized and non-motorized aircraft. Previously a competitive glider pilot, he currently holds a glider instructor rating, IFR rating, and has jumped out of a few airplanes with a parachute attached. He continues to be an avid cyclist and started playing golf five years ago. He also scuba dives, makes wine, and still uses his amateur radio license that he got at age 15. Lately, he enjoys walking his two retired racing greyhounds in the park. He is kept grounded by his loving family; wife, Rhonda, and children, Sarah and Adam. Rick went west to university whereas his children have returned to Ontario for their university education.

The experiences Rick gained in high school along with the enthusiasm he absorbed from many of his teachers have formed a great base for supporting Rick’s diverse range of professional and recreational interests. His two main mottos are, ‘Life is short, eat dessert first!’ and ‘The guy with the most interesting and varied life experiences wins!’ Rick would like to thank King City Secondary for awarding him this honour, as well as his friends, teachers, parents and family; all of whom have given him the encouragement and support to pursue his ambitions and attain his goals.

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