He’s been water skiing in Israel, enjoys mountaineering in Utah, has broken just about every bone in his body, competed in numerous triathlons and marathons, played professional baseball in Italy and is currently spearheading the opening of a brand new facility that offers free public education for special needs students (in his spare time).

“I was always active mentally and physically. That’s my main thing – active mind, active body,” said Dr. Martin Weinapple, 73, Princeton Insurance policyholder since 1984.

One look around his Princeton, NJ office, and it’s clear Dr. Weinapple isn’t your run-of-the-mill scholarly doctor. It’s adorned with various medals and trophies, faded pennants, striking paintings and interesting photos - the largest of which is a framed shot of the athletic doctor himself on a bicycle, mid-race.

Exemplifying perseverance professionally and personally, Dr Weinapple has chosen Princeton Insurance as his medical professional liability insurance provider since 1983, and said he has never once wavered.

“Consistency and perseverance go together,” said the energetic doctor. “I stick with things that I trust and I believe in, especially when I’ve come to rely on somebody.”

Dr. Weinapple said that colleagues have tried to persuade him to switch carriers over the years, and that he has been pursued by representatives from other insurance companies who were attempting to lure him with attractive rates or appealing discounts, yet he was never interested.

“I try to stay with people I’ve had good relationships with,” said Dr. Weinapple of his partnership with Princeton Insurance. “To me, that’s very important. Reliability is key.”

Dedicated to his craft
Board certified in psychiatry and neurology, Dr. Weinapple had his psychiatric residency at Montefiore Hospital in New York and a Fellowship in child psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. He also served as a 2nd Marine Division Psychiatrist in the United States Navy.

He is an attending psychiatrist at The Medical Center at Princeton and worked as associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. He served as a consultant to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office in addition to his duties as a member of the medical staff with the Association for the Advancement of Mental Health.

He has also worked in the adolescent unit of Princeton House and previously served as the medical director of Carrier Clinic’s Adolescent Unit.

Today, he works three days a week seeing patients through his private practice in Princeton and serves as medical director at the NuView Academy in North Brunswick, NJ.

Determined to be a role model
Dr. Weinapple’s involvement with the annual Anchor House Ride for Runaways exemplifies perseverance in his personal life.

For the past 15 years, he has set aside one week annually to bike 500 miles in order to raise money for the Anchor House, a shelter in Trenton, NJ for runaway and/or abused teens. In 2007, he was the oldest participant in the ride.

Coincidentally, Princeton Insurance’s own Peter Downey, support services assistant, participated in the ride for the very first time in 2007. Whether training for an event of this magnitude for the first time or the 15th time, stability, leadership and preparedness are all attributes no participant can be without.

Dr. Weinapple said his involvement with events like the Ride for Runaways allows him to serve as a role model to his patients and young people in the community.

“Anchor House is something I do, I contribute,” said Dr. Weinapple. “I think I have more of an impact being active than just writing a check. Doctors have to set examples for their patients - and for the kids.”

On a personal level, Dr. Weinapple said that he finds long bike rides therapeutic and uses that time to clear his head and ponder his current patients’ issues… or to let go of it all.

“I just feel free,” he said, “To me, there is nothing more relaxing than a 60-mile bike ride or skiing down a mountainside. My mind clears of extraneous stuff.”

He added that anyone can make the time for fitness and healthy activities if they just try. “If you put the time in, you’ll feel better. Eventually, you’ll find that the more time you put in, the more time you will have.”
<continue reading Dr.Weinapple's story...>