Three brothers dig into medical studies

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Three Winnipeg brothers are proving that hard work and determination can lift you to endless heights, no matter where you came from.

Raised by their father in a single parent, low-income household, Conrad, Murray and Gerald Hoy rebelled in their school years and struggled academically. Murray and Gerald were high school dropouts. Now all three are going to be doctors-an accomplishment even their former high school track-and-field coach finds surprising.

"When I found out they were all becoming doctors I was a little bit shocked to say the least," said Bill MacDonald. "Academically they really struggled, but they were amazing athletes with a determination that was visible even back then. It was just a matter of focusing their energy in the right direction." Now MacDonald tells the story of "The Hoy Boys" to motivate his current students.

Reflecting back on their lives, even the Hoys are in disbelief of how far they have come.

"If you would have asked anyone back in high school where I would be in 10 years, they would have said either 'in jail or dead,'" said 31-year-old Gerald.

Gerald just started medical school this year. Conrad, 34, is a pain rehabilitation specialist with his own practice; Murray, 33, is in his third year of medical school.

Being of Métis descent and from a low-income household always left them feeling like outsiders during their school years, something they now look back on as a positive thing.

"I think that is probably what gave us the drive to work so hard at what we have done and try to be successful," said Conrad. "We had to work hard to get everything we have. We didn't get anything handed to us on a silver platter."

After dropping out of school and working a series of dead-end jobs, Murray and Gerald decided to return to adult education in their early twenties, and both eventually went to nursing school. Both brothers worked as nurses for several years on reserves up North. Conrad entered university and medical school right out of high school.

"After we graduated from nursing school, Conrad kept on encouraging us to go to medical school," said Murray. "Because of the nature of our work up North in isolated communities we had an advantage." Medical school would give them special consideration because of their Aboriginal ancestry and previous medical experience. So Murray and Gerald decided to follow the same career path.

"It's pretty exciting . . . in a lot of ways I put the idea into both of their minds," said Conrad. "When people find out that we are all going to become doctors they joke that we should start up the Hoy Brothers Clinic. We'll have to see about that . . . but it is something I would be very proud of."

Although working together is something they are still unsure of, they do know their future plans include working with Aboriginal people. Murray wants to remain in Winnipeg and work in the downtown core, while Gerald plans to practice on northern reserves when he graduates.

"I never thought we'd all be doctors one day," said Gerald. "It's too bad our father isn't around to see this." Their father, James Hoy, passed away last November, just months before Gerald learned of his acceptance into medical school.

"Our dad was disappointed when we dropped out of school. He had a community college diploma and it was important to him," said Murray. "I think he'd be pretty proud right now."