... travel two or three paths simultaneously.
Richard Caplan
Dr. Richard Caplan always enjoyed music.
In fact, he even thought about making it a career at one time. However, a passion for science took him down another path, one that led him to become a dermatologist.
Though medicine consumed much of Caplan's life, he never forgot about music.
Not only did Caplan, a skilled pianist, attend and support area music events, but he also often had a hand in them.
Too often people think they can only pursue one interest, Caplan said. While they may make a career in one field, they shouldn't feel like they can't try their hand out in others, he said.
"I think more people can do more than they think, sort of travel two or three paths simultaneously," Caplan said. "The world is such an interesting place and there are so many interesting things in it."
In the 1970s, Caplan began becoming interested in the emergence of bioethics.
Studying it and wanting to share his knowledge, he began offering workshops on the subject at the University of Iowa.
Today's UI bioethics program was born out of those workshops.
With his life partner, Ellen, being a librarian, Caplan also was very knowledgeable about books.
Combining his knowledge and his passion for reading, Caplan began a book club and discussion group for UI doctors.
Because he couldn't get enough of Sherlock Holmes, he began an Iowa City fan club in 1987.
Eight years ago, he dusted off his childhood clarinet and joined the New Horizons Senior Band.
Soon after retirement, Caplan took an oil painting class at Kirkwood Community College because he always was interested in painting.
— Deanna Truman
