When David Watts '62 was awarded Southwestern's 1991 Distinguished Alumnus Award, he was commended for "exemplifying the ideals of a well-rounded liberal arts education." Take a glance at his resume, and you'll understand why.

He is a doctor, a teacher, a poet, a musician, a radio commentator, and an occasional television host. How does he find time for it all?

"You get more efficient as time goes by," he says. "And when you find a passion, it has a way of finding time for you."

Watts is a gastroenterologist who, along with his practice, has taught medicine for more than 25 years. He continually has sought ways to integrate his love of medicine with his many other interests. His medical commentaries for National Public Radio's All Things Considered address subjects like doctor/patient relationships and patients who have overcome extraordinary circumstances.

"Illness tends to open up people to their own humanity, and you get a glimpse of the human spirit at a crossroads."

He has founded his own multi-media company, produced health programs for PBS, hosted medical programs for the Lifetime network, and presented nightly health reports for an Oakland Fox news affiliate, winning numerous awards for his work along the way.

He also uses medicine as inspiration for his poetry. His book, "Taking the History", includes poems that show the humanistic viewpoint of practicing medicine, and describes "the struggle of doctors to do superhuman things, while remaining human." The book is now being used in the literature curriculum at universities like Harvard and Yale. Another of his books, "Making", was awarded the Talent House Prize in 1999.

"It took me a long time to write about medicine. I always wanted to write about love and romance like other poets. It really came from realizing that poetry is an expression of truth, where you must be ruthlessly honest about your own shortcomings."

Noting that "the best way to learn something is to teach it," Watts also leads a poetry class for seniors at the Fromm Institute.

A member of San Francisco's Bohemian Club Symphony for 20 years, he has recently teamed up with his poet spouse, Joan Baranow, to combine his writing with music for a jazz poetry CD. The couple will perform works from the CD at the Austin International Poet Festival, April 19-21.

"This has turned out to be a wonderful thing. I've always been interested in the relationship between music and words. When reading poetry to music, there is a heightened sense of feeling that allows a pause for reflection, letting the words lie out there for a while."

Growing up in Georgetown, Watts was the son of the late Southwestern Professor of Theology Harvey D. Watts. As a student, he thrived at Southwestern. On his way to earning a degree in chemistry, he served as student body president, played tennis and received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for outstanding graduating senior. He then went on to the Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston.

He has seven children, including two with Baranow. Married nine years, they have a five-year-old, Duston, and a six-month-old, Gabriel.

Most recently, Watts contributed his poem, "Jenner Stones," for the upcoming book, "Justice For All", a collection of essays that will be given out as a memento at the April inauguration of Southwestern's 14th President Jake Schrum.

"I thought it was a fascinating idea. I hadn't really thought about justice as a concept in my work, but I found a poem I wrote that spoke about the hardships of life, and how justice comes to those who keep hope and do the best they can. In a way, it parallels my own life, and divorce, and how, with my new family, I've suddenly found such beauty and happiness."

-Greg Holland