ClareOaks SENIOR LIVING Clare Oaks resident reflects on role as physician-astronaut When Dr. Joe Kerwin became NASA's first physician-astronaut in 1965, he didn't foresee his critical role in repairing the first U.S. space station eight years later. He surely didn't imagine being flung into space when a solar-panel array abruptly deployed. "That was a joy," Dr. Kerwin recalls, relishing the sensation of total freedom that he and Pete Conrad had experienced-trusting all the while in the integrity of the steel cable anchoring them to Skylab. "And as we pulled ourselves back, hand over hand, we could see the panels unfold." Without the panels, the newly launched space station would have been useless. "It was like we just scored the winning touchdown," says Dr. Kerwin, speaking from his most recent landing site, Clare Oaks, a continuing care retirement community in Bartlett. In September, after his wife Lee had experienced several health episodes, the Kerwins moved from Houston, Texas to Bartlett at the suggestion of Kristina, the youngest of their three daughters, who lives in Wheaton. "We wanted to move to Clare Oaks for its lifestyle and support system and to the Chicago area, where we can access the best care," he explains. It's a homecoming for Dr. Kerwin. Born in Oak Park, he attended Northwestern Medical School before entering the Navy, where he specialized in aviation medicine. He'd had an interest in airplanes before that and a fascination with space: as a boy he read so many science fiction books, his older brothers kidded him about wanting to go to the moon. Dr. Jor Kerwin, NASA's first physician-astronaur, returned to his Chicagoland roots and now resides at Clare Oaks. Pho by Tammy Nolser a shield and one solar array had torn loose, and the other was now jammed. Skylab had no shielding from the heat and no power for full life support; temperatures inside would climb to 120 degrees. The crew's launch was postponed for 10 days and reconceived as a repair mission. After finally docking with Skylab, the astronauts were able to rig a makeshift sunscreen to bring down the temperature. Two weeks later, Kerwin and Conrad took their spacewalk (with its unexpected bungee jump) to dislodge the remaining solar panel. "That was the first repair of this magnitude ever made in space," Dr. Kerwin points out. The mission continued for another two weeks, with the crew performing more repairs but also completing a variety of scientific experiments, as well as photographic mapping of the earth from outer space. Their 28 days at Skylab established a new record for human spaceflight Realizing that first-hand experience would enhance his efficacy as a flight surgeon, Dr. Kerwin studied to become a Navy pilot. When he heard that NASA was recruiting scientists for astronaut training-in a news item on NBC-TV's "Huntley-Brinkley Report"-his wife remarked that he'd probably like that. "So I applied," he says. "Most astronaut applicants were test pilots: I had 2,000 hours of flight training and a medical degree." Considering the many medical issues related to space travel, NASA jumped at the chance to recruit a flying physician. duration. "Now people are spending three and six months in space, which makes interplanetary travel possible," Dr. Kerwin says. "Mars will be next." About Clare Oaks Since 2008, Clare Oaks provides independent living apartments and cottages as well as a continuum of care for nearly 300 residents on its 41-acre campus. Services include independent At NASA, he researched motion sickness and physical changes experienced in a weightless environment. He conferred on nutrition, the monitoring of circadian rhythms, the design of space suits and helmets, and worked on evaluating the importance of exercise during space travel to prevent loss of musele and bone iving, assisted living, memory support, short- term rehabilitation and long-term care. In April 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services once again awarded Clare Oaks the highest ranking for skilled nursing care and short-term rehab services for adults, as well as a rare five-star rating in all categories-health inspection, quality measures and staffing. mass. For more information about Clare Oaks, 825 Carillon Drive, Bartlett, IlI., call 630.372.1983 or visit ClareOaks.org. Skylab, the first U.S. space station, launched on May 14, 1973. A three-man crew, including Dr. Kerwin, was slated to leave the next day to spend four weeks aboard. But during the launch, ClareOaks SENIOR LIVING Clare Oaks resident reflects on role as physician-astronaut When Dr. Joe Kerwin became NASA's first physician-astronaut in 1965, he didn't foresee his critical role in repairing the first U.S. space station eight years later. He surely didn't imagine being flung into space when a solar-panel array abruptly deployed. "That was a joy," Dr. Kerwin recalls, relishing the sensation of total freedom that he and Pete Conrad had experienced-trusting all the while in the integrity of the steel cable anchoring them to Skylab. "And as we pulled ourselves back, hand over hand, we could see the panels unfold." Without the panels, the newly launched space station would have been useless. "It was like we just scored the winning touchdown," says Dr. Kerwin, speaking from his most recent landing site, Clare Oaks, a continuing care retirement community in Bartlett. In September, after his wife Lee had experienced several health episodes, the Kerwins moved from Houston, Texas to Bartlett at the suggestion of Kristina, the youngest of their three daughters, who lives in Wheaton. "We wanted to move to Clare Oaks for its lifestyle and support system and to the Chicago area, where we can access the best care," he explains. It's a homecoming for Dr. Kerwin. Born in Oak Park, he attended Northwestern Medical School before entering the Navy, where he specialized in aviation medicine. He'd had an interest in airplanes before that and a fascination with space: as a boy he read so many science fiction books, his older brothers kidded him about wanting to go to the moon. Dr. Jor Kerwin, NASA's first physician-astronaur, returned to his Chicagoland roots and now resides at Clare Oaks. Pho by Tammy Nolser a shield and one solar array had torn loose, and the other was now jammed. Skylab had no shielding from the heat and no power for full life support; temperatures inside would climb to 120 degrees. The crew's launch was postponed for 10 days and reconceived as a repair mission. After finally docking with Skylab, the astronauts were able to rig a makeshift sunscreen to bring down the temperature. Two weeks later, Kerwin and Conrad took their spacewalk (with its unexpected bungee jump) to dislodge the remaining solar panel. "That was the first repair of this magnitude ever made in space," Dr. Kerwin points out. The mission continued for another two weeks, with the crew performing more repairs but also completing a variety of scientific experiments, as well as photographic mapping of the earth from outer space. Their 28 days at Skylab established a new record for human spaceflight Realizing that first-hand experience would enhance his efficacy as a flight surgeon, Dr. Kerwin studied to become a Navy pilot. When he heard that NASA was recruiting scientists for astronaut training-in a news item on NBC-TV's "Huntley-Brinkley Report"-his wife remarked that he'd probably like that. "So I applied," he says. "Most astronaut applicants were test pilots: I had 2,000 hours of flight training and a medical degree." Considering the many medical issues related to space travel, NASA jumped at the chance to recruit a flying physician. duration. "Now people are spending three and six months in space, which makes interplanetary travel possible," Dr. Kerwin says. "Mars will be next." About Clare Oaks Since 2008, Clare Oaks provides independent living apartments and cottages as well as a continuum of care for nearly 300 residents on its 41-acre campus. Services include independent At NASA, he researched motion sickness and physical changes experienced in a weightless environment. He conferred on nutrition, the monitoring of circadian rhythms, the design of space suits and helmets, and worked on evaluating the importance of exercise during space travel to prevent loss of musele and bone iving, assisted living, memory support, short- term rehabilitation and long-term care. In April 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services once again awarded Clare Oaks the highest ranking for skilled nursing care and short-term rehab services for adults, as well as a rare five-star rating in all categories-health inspection, quality measures and staffing. mass. For more information about Clare Oaks, 825 Carillon Drive, Bartlett, IlI., call 630.372.1983 or visit ClareOaks.org. Skylab, the first U.S. space station, launched on May 14, 1973. A three-man crew, including Dr. Kerwin, was slated to leave the next day to spend four weeks aboard. But during the launch,