Dr. Andrew Doan is a father, husband and surgeon.It’s not the typical profile of a video gamer. But Doan was not only a gamer, he was an addict whose life was nearly destroyed by video games.Doan escaped Vietnam in 1975 with his family. After living in South Dakota for a year, they moved to Aloha. Once there, the family struggled to make a success out of their small business.“They would turn off the heat in the winter in Oregon,” Doan said. “I remember writing my name on the inside of the house, because the frost was on the inside. So money was a huge deal for us.”After attending Reed College and working as a neuroscience intern at the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Beaverton, Doan got a full scholarship to Johns Hopkins Medical School in Maryland.That’s where Doan discovered the world of community gaming where he could compete against others
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“I'd be like, ARRR! It was crazy, but I loved getting mad because it was an outlet for all the stuff that was pent up while I was playing.”His wife left him with their two young children and moved across the country. Doan became suicidal. While they eventually reconciled, he continued to game Photos bring back painful memories. In one picture, he’s seen holding his infant son; a computer monitor sits in the background. He remembers once that his wife interrupted a game of Ultima.“I had to kiss him (my son), so it was like a half-cocked kiss,” said Doan. “My eyes were kind of irritated. I didn't even take time to turn around completely to pose (with) him.”It wasn't until the gaming caused Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in his right hand and arm and nearly ended his career as an eye surgeon that Doan finally went cold turkey.He entered a faith-based 12-step program and then started to intensely research video game
“I'd be like, ARRR! It was crazy, but I loved getting mad because it was an outlet for all the stuff that was pent up while I was playing.”His wife left him with their two young children and moved across the country. Doan became suicidal. While they eventually reconciled, he continued to game Photos bring back painful memories. In one picture, he’s seen holding his infant son; a computer monitor sits in the background. He remembers once that his wife interrupted a game of Ultima.“I had to kiss him (my son), so it was like a half-cocked kiss,” said Doan. “My eyes were kind of irritated. I didn't even take time to turn around completely to pose (with) him.”It wasn't until the gaming caused Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in his right hand and arm and nearly ended his career as an eye surgeon that Doan finally went cold turkey.He entered a faith-based 12-step program and then started to intensely research video game