Meet Maurice Cherrie
Meet Maurice Cherrie – BSc, MRT - R, CT, MRI
Director Diagnostic Imaging at WELL Health Medical & Longevity Centre in Vancouver
While many people think of an MRI, CT scan or X-ray solely as a way to provide advanced insight on an illness, those same diagnostic tools play a significant role for preventative, proactive care in the WELL Longevity+ programs. “We’ve created programs so clients can come in and have a full screen of their bodies. It’s great to help people be preventative about their health instead of just being reactive. We’re using images to help improve their health, not just for the diagnosis of illness,” says Maurice Cherrie, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at WELL Health Medical & Longevity Centre in Vancouver.
“I’m really attracted to imaging, as it’s the primary tool used to diagnose. After blood work, the next step is imaging and that’s how you really see what’s going on in the body,” says Cherrie. Originally attracted to medicine by his father, Maurice pursued diagnostics for his career path. “My father was a physician, so that was my introduction to a future in medicine, though I found a different way to contribute to the health and wellness of individuals by going into diagnostic imaging.”
With a Bachelor of Science degree, Maurice began his studies at Carleton University in Ottawa before attending Eastern Ontario School of X-ray in Kingston, Ontario. He continued to add to his academic resumé with additional training in MRI and CT scans in Vancouver.
His career has taken him to a number of clinics and hospitals in Western Canada, beginning with UBC Hospital in the x-ray department, followed by stints at Vancouver General Hospital, Saint Paul’s Hospital, and in Calgary at Tom Baker Cancer Center and Foothills Medical Centre.
After working at False Creek Diagnostics for almost a decade, he became a partner in the business prior to the clinic transitioning to the WELL Health Medical & Longevity Centre, and now serves as the Director Diagnostic Imaging, providing guidance and direction for the development of the WELL Longevity+ programs.
Maurice notes that the most fulfilling part of his role in longevity medicine and preventative health is “catching things in people who are completely asymptomatic through imaging. It’s going to prolong their life and can help save them from something serious happening down the road. It’s fulfilling to know that we make a difference for them. We can help them have a longer, healthier life by diagnosing issues earlier and helping them build a plan to actively address the challenges.”
What draws people to WELL Longevity+? Maurice’s conversations with clients typically focus on discovering what motivates them to seek improvement to their healthspan. Some people have very specific reasons for embracing longevity initiatives. There may be a history of disease in their family. Specialty programs have been developed at WELL to screen for cancer, as well as another designed for cardiovascular heart health screening. When in conversation with others clients, they’re motivated by the desire to stay active, recognizing that prolonging joint health is crucial to aging well. Maurice notes that “being able to continue to play tennis, golf, hike, and travel as they age is very important to many of our clients.”
When not at the clinic, Maurice embraces the outdoor lifestyle Vancouver provides for both mental and physical health. He enjoys golf at the local courses, beach volleyball and snowboarding. The latter he did recently, and laughs saying “I’m feeling like I’m getting older, as I don’t quite sit up as easily as I used to. It’s all in the abs. I have to work on those!”