Alan Kruckemyer
What is/was your job or profession?
I was born in Illinois but grew up and went to school in Orlando, Florida (way before Disney!). When I was 12 years old, my younger brother was diagnosed with Legg-Calf Perthes disease of the hip. The only treatment was to be totally non-weight bearing for 2-3 years and he was taken care of by Dr. Eugene Jewell. A pioneer in Orthopaedics and the developer of the Jewett nail that was the first reliable fixation for hip fractures. During those 2-3 years of my brother's treatment, and my interaction with Dr. Jewett, the seed for medicine was planted.
After finishing high school, four years after graduation from the University of Florida, four years after graduating from medical school, one year after internship, four years after completing Residency and one year after becoming Board Eligible, I became Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and practiced for the next 31 years mostly in Salina, Kansas.
Looking back, I don't think I would have been happy or satisfied doing anything else.
What is your favorite sports team(s) and why?
I have loved participating and watching sports ever since grade school and some of my greatest satisfactions in Orthopaedics was returning athletes back to the sports they loved. Picking a favorite sports team is like asking what is your favorite flavor of ice cream. I root, in no particular order, for all KC sports teams, Florida Gator sports teams and whoever is playing against Florida State University.
What is your favorite vacation destination, and why?
Marti and I have traveled to many states in the USA and foreign countries and hope to continue to do more in the future. My favorite place is one in which I can view an early morning sunrise over an ocean crashing onto a beach or view mist lifting from a mountain meadow while enjoying a cup of coffee and a chocolate covered, cream filled donut or watching a sunset on a field of wheat on the rolling Kansas plains or watch the sun set behind a snow-covered mountain peak while sipping a glass of red wine and savoring a bit of dark chocolate. Simple pleasures.
What is your ideal sandwich?
Far and away, my favorite sandwich is a prime rib French dip sandwich cooked medium rare on a baguette accompanied by sweet potato fries and fruit.
If you are at a trivia night, what category would you know most about?
I have never been particularly versed in any one particular subject that would help any trivia team. But, I do like to LEARN trivia about a lot of topics. And so to become more of an expert in something, I will strive to learn more and more about less and less so that I can know everything about nothing.
