Dr. Dennis Oh, Chief of Neurosurgery at Baystate Health, grew up in the Philippines and has always had a passion for basketball. He remembers playing daily growing up. “I remember playing every day as a young boy.” Dr. Oh went on to have a lifelong pastime of playing the game.
He was high school team captain and ranked 1 of the best of 12 in his state. He plays the 1 position. For those of you who are not basketball fans, that is the point guard. The 1 role is the leader of the team, the person who advances the ball down the court, relays the plays to team mates, and sets the pace of the game. This person has to be a risk taker and highly competitive.
After completing medical school and residency in the Philippines, Dr. Oh moved to New England to complete fellowships at both Brigham and Women’s and Boston Children’s. Once his training was at a manageable pace, he began playing basketball again here in the United States in adult leagues.
When Dr. Oh arrived at Baystate Health, he and other colleagues put together a team of mostly BH folks. He continues to play on a league and also coaches a younger generation of basketball players. He has helped in coaching teams with age ranges from second grade to high school varsity.
As a neurosurgeon Dr. Oh always has a calming presence. On the court he admits that he is highly competitive, “My stress outlet is the court.”
Dr. Oh’s favorite basketball quote is “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Many have seen the passion that Dr. Oh has for his Neurosurgery patients. It is clear his love for basketball runs just as deep.
