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Ortho resident brings athlete's perspective to medicine

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Ellen Harr
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  With the grueling hours that most medical residents work, many are content to spend their precious “free” hours catching up on sleep.

Capt. (Dr.) James Bales, an orthopedics resident with the 859th Surgical Operations Squadron here at Wilford Hall Medical Center, is no exception. But he is just as likely to spend his rare moments of free time running, swimming or cycling.

After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001, Dr. Bales headed to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., for medical school.

When his courses began, he found that the school charged $6 a day for parking. To save money, Dr. Bales decided to run or bike the 10-mile commute to and from school each day.

The decision saved him money. It was also the beginning of his career as a triathlete.

As a child growing up on a farm in eastern Colorado, James and his brothers often helped their father by exercising the sheep in the evenings.

“We chased them around for 40 minutes every night. It helps the sheep develop lean muscle mass. I guess you could say that’s how I started running,” Dr. Bales said.

During Dr. Bales' time as a cadet at the academy, he was part of the swim team. A breaststroke specialist, he made the Olympic Trial cuts in 2000.

“After swimming (at the academy), I found that I was a pretty good runner. Eventually, I began competing in triathlons,” he said.

Dr. Bales' unique combination of training and commuting to medical school led him to become the top-ranked triathlete in the Air Force for the past three years.

He has competed in Ironman triathlons in Hawaii and Wisconsin and qualified for the Olympic Trials in the triathlon for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. His accomplishments also include four regional championships. Even as a medical student, Dr. Bales was able to participate in about 25 races per season.

“My philosophy on racing, especially as an orthopedic surgeon, is that we see patients who don’t have the ability to run or even walk. You really feel blessed. It’s truly a gift to be out there competing and racing,” he said. “I’m thankful that the Air Force really supports physical fitness activities.”

After graduating from medical school, Dr. Bales began his residency at Wilford Hall. He continues to balance work and athletics.

“One of my criteria for buying a house when I came to San Antonio was that it would allow me to commute to Wilford Hall on bike,” he said. “Right now, orthopedics and patient care are my top priorities. I continue to train just for the love of it. Hopefully I’ll be able to maintain a baseline level of fitness. It’s also a great stress reliever.”