Whatever happened to Dr. Renee Martin?

Here is my question and answer dialog with Renee Martin, Ph.D. (Next time, it will be with Lonny.)

Renee H, Martin, Ph.D., FCCMG
Professor of Medical Genetics University of Calgary
Canada Research Chair in Genetics
Associate Director, Institute Maternal and Child Health

Can you tell us about how you keep fit nowadays? What is your current favorite exercise format?
I do go to the gym for both cardio and weight training but, by far, my favorite exercise is out of doors -- hiking and cycling in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. In fact, I just booked a hiking holiday in July with my best friend and her husband. Every year, the four of us hike at some wonderful mountain locale, generally in Western Canada or the States, but sometimes in France, Italy, or Spain.

Is there any exercise you can no longer enjoy and really miss?
I can no longer run (creaky knees and flat feet), but walking is a great pleasure.

Do you still have that famous sweet tooth?
I still have daily hits of dark chocolate and black licorice, and regular treats of ice cream and cheese. Regular exercise seems to allow considerable leeway without worrying about diet.

What are you doing now in the field of genetics?
I am studying the causes of chromosome abnormalities in human sperm, especially in infertile men.

What issues concern you most in genetics?
The development of private "do-it-yourself" genome scans -- really not useful without the guidance of a geneticist.

What is your proudest accomplishment of the last decade?
A body of research leading to new knowledge about how the early stages of sperm production are linked to chromosome abnormalities, and the training of new researchers who are now professors in universities in Canada, France, China, and Spain.

What is your greatest pleasure these days?
There is great pleasure in the travel associated with my work -- discovering the different ways people live and work around the world. In the past year, I have traveled to Botswana, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Miami, Dallas, France, Montreal, Halifax, Phoenix, Belize, San Diego, Vancouver, Barcelona, and China.

What concerns you most about our world today?
The lack of world peace is horrifying.

Have any advice you’d like to give other baby boomers?
If you are like Charlene and me, you are sure to face adversities. I currently have a stress fracture (no skiing this year). But just keep on trucking, and take pleasure in what you can do.

Do you think about retirement and what you would like to do?
Yes, retirement is coming up soon, as my hubby has become enamored of life as a farmer. We have planted a small vineyard in the Okanagan, and we will make our first wine from our very own grapes this fall -- so, a very big change on the horizon.