Getting to know … Bob Quarles (B.S. ’79)
Part of an occasional series of VCU School of Pharmacy faculty, student and alumni profiles (Note: Alumni, students and faculty are invited to hear Quarles’ band, The English Channel, 1-4 p.m. April 25 on Clay Street between 10th and 11th streets. The free performance is part of Reunion Weekend 2009.)
Bob Quarles is a “Richmond boy,” born and bred.
Like many School of Pharmacy graduates, he grew up in Richmond, attended high school here (Douglas S. Freeman) and began his career as a pharmacist (nine years, in retail).
Also like many SOP alums, in time he continued his education – in his case, attending the University of Richmond for a graduate biology program and then Kansas City University of Health Sciences for osteopathic medical school.
The university, now known as Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, awarded Quarles a D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree. After four years of medical school and an internship, he served as chief resident in a family practice residency at St. Francis Central Hospital in Pittsburgh.
“The difference is philosophic,” Quarles says of his medical degree and ensuing career. The focus for holistic physicians, he points out, is unity of body, mind and spirit.
In 1996, Quarles moved back to Richmond with his family. He began practicing – and still is with — Melhorn, Melhorn and Quarles, a center for primary care and nonsurgical sports medicine.
Within a few years, his life took new turns. How many pharmacy alums have founded a rock band and worked for the World Wrestling Federation?
Exactly.
The WWF (now known as WWE) proved to be an “interesting” experience for Quarles, who served as its medical director from 2002 to 2005.
“It’s not fake,” he notes. “They wouldn’t have needed me!”
The shows were scripted and choreographed … till something went wrong. “Dislocations, concussions, stitches,” Quarles recalls. “A lot of trips to the hospital for CT scans.
“It was a great thing to have done,” he says, laughing. “And it’s a great thing to be over.”
Wrestling aside, music had always been part of Quarles’ life.
“I’ve been playing the piano since I was 4 years old,” he says. “Then I picked up the drums at around 10 and [eventually] got into rock bands.”
During his first year at the School of Pharmacy, in fact, he performed with a band called Hobbiton Bridge. “We did a lot of artsy rock, Moody Blues, Genesis … but it’s hard to be in school and play in that busy a band.”
At some point, Quarles had had enough of public performing. But in 2001 – eager to return to the musical fray — Quarles and his wife co-founded The English Channel.
“The music I cut my teeth on was the Beatles,” he says. “I wanted to focus on that [kind of music] and be the best at it.”
Things progressed fairly rapidly once the Quarleses had developed a concept and playlist for an all British invasion band. “It didn’t take very long to find personnel to fill the bill.”
Fast forward eight years … “And we’re playing our buns off!” says Quarles, who’s known in the band as Dr. Bob. “Great venues, great jobs.”
Among his favorite jobs have been opening for the acclaimed Beatles tribute band, 1964, at Richmond’s Innsbrook Pavilion … and performing for Tony Blair, former British prime minister, at the Richmond Forum last fall.
The English Channel played a 45-minute set, ending with “God Save the Queen” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“I walked off the stage with such a lump in my throat,” Quarles says. Blair spoke for an hour, the band played another 15 minutes and then Blair asked to meet the band.
“I was a fan before we met him,” Quarles says, “and he just nailed it shut. Sharp wit, engaging, nice person, empathy, compassion. He’s the whole package.”
So what should School of Pharmacy alumni and friends expect if they attend The E.C.’s Reunion Weekend performance?
“A trip back to the music that they grew up on,” says Quarles. “Everybody’s going to know some of the songs we play. Every generation seems to find The Beatles.
“The music is catchy and it’s got great hooks, everything from pop and ballads to light rock and metal.”
“Dr. Bob” is partial to the Moody Blues (“Knights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Morning”) as well as The Who (“See Me, Feel Me” and “Pinball Wizard”).
“And,” he says, “all the songs that Julie sings are my favorites!”
That would be Mrs. Dr. Bob, Julie Quarles, whom he met in 1976 at Goucher College in Baltimore.
The two dated long-distance for a couple of years – “We still made good grades!” – but then Julie moved to Los Angeles.
“She was making a good living singing,” says Quarles. Still, love prevailed: The couple reconnected during his second year of medical school, and Julie moved to Kansas City. The two were married and eventually Jacey, now 17, and Robyn, 13, came along.
Even the kids think Mom and Dad are cool. Of course, that could be because they are singers. Jacey is in the Freeman High School show choir, and Robyn is in the select ensemble.
“They’re good kids,” Quarles says fondly. “Jacey’s goal is to get accepted to pharmacy school after obtaining a biology degree and then to become a pharmacist. I am certain that she will be offered a college softball scholarship somewhere.”
Although his 30th will be his first reunion back on campus – and certainly The English Channel’s first performance on campus — Quarles says, “I loved pharmacy school! I’d do it again in a minute.
“I really liked Bill Barr. Then there was J. Doyle Smith in organic chemistry: a lovely man, sweet disposition, always wanted to help.Harold Smith, Marvin Boots … and Russell Fiske. He was probably my favorite. He gave me so many opportunities to go out into the pharmacies and do prescription surveys.
“And I would be remiss to leave out Warren Weaver. Great character, great integrity. Pharmacy school was chock-full of wonderful people.”
But back to the future. “Life is great!” Quarles exclaims. “I tell patients I’m great. Once one of them said, ’Is that true?’
“I said, ’Yeah, because what I get to do is a rare privilege. People come see me, I get to take care of them, I have a great family, I get to play music.’ ”
Any words of wisdom for current SOP students? Quarles laughs. “It’s probably not a lot of fun when you’re loaded with heavy tests – but half the fun is getting there.
“It’s a process of becoming.”
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