With demands on their time constantly building, physicians say stress is one of their biggest challenges. Those issues start in earnest during residency when young doctors work long hours in training.
Antonio Adiletta, MD, a second-year radiology resident at the University of Pennsylvania, has found something that keeps him in tune away from work. He and his twin brother, Giovanni, play across the Philadelphia area with their band, Autumn Pyre. They play alternative rock; some songs are hard rock while others are acoustic.
“The great thing about music is that you can play solo or with others,” said Antonio Adiletta, who shares vocals duties with his brother. “I can pick up my guitar at home and play for as long as I’d like. It’s a great outlet and is super accessible.”
His interest in music began at a skatepark in Pennsylvania where a popular alternative rock music station served as the soundtrack. Adiletta joined a band for the first time in high school, playing bass for a pop-punk group.
“When I got a guitar for Christmas in high school, I found that playing was a way to experience music beyond listening to it,” he said. “I took a beginner guitar class at my high school and taught myself how to play online. I found it really fun to play along to my favorite songs on YouTube.”
His interest in music continued in medical school when he connected with classmates at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
“We started a band for fun and played at school events and annual talent shows,” Adiletta said. “We all dabbled with other instruments and experimented playing and teaching each other different ones. I started singing with this band and learned how to play drums after buying an electric drum set.”
Live music took an unwelcome break during much of the pandemic, putting the brothers and countless other bands on ice. They are starting to see the action warm up, including a live recording session in Brooklyn this month.
“Before the pandemic, we were playing at local venues, bars, and festivals,” Adiletta said. “We’ve developed a relationship at a venue in Manayunk, which is outside of Philadelphia. We’re hoping to play more shows as venues open back up.”
Adiletta is eager to get back in front of audiences, using the creative outlet and crowd reaction to battle job stress. He’s happy that his program values free time that allows residents to decompress.
“I feel fortunate to be a resident at the University of Pennsylvania, where they prioritize wellness and allow a great work-life balance for their residents,” he said.
