What Do Piano Playing and Rheumatology Have in Common?

Chad Hille, MD, is a rheumatologist at Ochsner Baton Rouge. That means he knows a lot about joints and the hands, so perhaps it is no surprise that he enjoys playing piano in his spare time.

Dr. Hille started playing piano at about age 5 or 6, mostly studying classical music with a little jazz thrown in here and there.

Being a musician requires practicing passages over and over to get them right. 

"That parallels into medicine as well,'' Dr. Hille said.

Rheumatologists treat conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tendinitis and bursitis, lupus and chronic back pain. These conditions can affect joins, muscles and bones, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and, potentially, joint deformities.

Dr. Hille enjoys taking breaks from his work to play piano. "It's beneficial.''

Dr. Hille practices at Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove and Ochsner Health Center – O’Neal, both in Baton Rouge.