Leading a double life may seem exclusive to spy movies, secret agents, and superhero comics. Unknown to many, the Choate community is home to multi-talented individuals who lead double lives at the health center and on the athletic teams.
Dr. Miriam Cohen
Before coming to Choate, Dr. Miriam Cohen was part of the U.S. Navy and went on to pursue medical school with an interest in orthopedics. After that, she worked in a private pediatrics clinic for 17 years.
Now, as our medical director, her work focuses on creating a healthier Choate community by giving teenagers the opportunity and tools they need to take care of themselves. Dr. Cohen’s work does not stop there, as she also serves as an assistant coach for Girls’ JV Hockey. Prompted by her love for playing and watching the sport, she decided to take on this additional role.
A commonality between coaching and being a medical director is the ability to connect with students. “It’s kind of fun to meet students in a very different manner in a different environment,” Dr. Cohen said. Dr. Cohen’s commitment to the health center and her prioritization of student health requires creative time management. Her support system on campus has helped her significantly with making it on time to practice and managing her roles.
Although it can be mentally and physically exhausting to keep up with her “double life,” it is certainly a very rewarding responsibility. “A lot of it has to do with the wonderful support that I get from everybody I work with here, and we work as a team,” she said.
Dr. Cohen continued, “We had a game against Westminster, which we didn’t win, but some of our players who had never played before did amazingly. You could see what we worked on in practice come into life in a game, and so to be part of that and to guide them there, it just makes [everything] so joyful.”
Mr. Ryan Roddy
Nurse and Wrestling Head Coach Mr. Ryan Roddy has always loved sports. Having shared many enjoyable experiences with his coaches growing up, Mr. Roddy was inspired to become a coach himself. “You want to make sure that you can give back to the community and have good coaches. This is something that I can give back to the community,” he said.
Mr. Roddy maintains his devotion to the nursing profession and chose to work at Choate because it allows him to work in pediatrics with high school students while still being able to coach.
As a coach, Mr. Roddy wants his wrestlers to understand that sports is not just about winning, but also about learning. He applies the lessons learned from his early days to his current profession.
Alternating between being a nurse and a coach can be a challenging task. However, Mr. Roddy appreciates his wonderful co-workers and staff who allowed him to coach. He continued, “Students also understand that my job [of being a nurse] here is number one, and they still come up with a team even though we start practice a little bit later, at 4:30 p.m.”
Mr. Roddy is clearly passionate about coaching, having coached at every school that he has worked at. This year, he feels confident in the team’s great potential. “Everybody’s so excited to learn every single day they’re coming in, they’re excited, and I don’t have to go chase them down to show up or to work hard,” he said. “They want to work hard, they want to learn something new. They’re just sponges for knowledge.”
Although Dr. Cohen and Mr. Roddy may not be undercover spies, they are true heroes of our community. With their wide range of skills, they work tirelessly to ensure that students get the best possible experience. Next time you see them in the health center, at the ice rink, or in the wrestling room, make sure to say hi to these “double-agents.”
