Rock with musically talented docs, help fight diabetes

UNIVERSITY CITY (WPVI) -- When these doctors talk about 'stones,' it's not necessarily the kidney or gall bladder variety.

It's just as likely a reference to rock idols, the Rolling Stones.

These doctors are also serious rock musicians, and on Saturday night, they'll fill the World Café Live in University City with their sound at the 6th annual Rockin' Docs for A Diabetes Cure concert.

This year's lineup features four established bands - Chicago 9 Tribute Band, Runnin' Late, Shadow Merchant, and Rightback.

Each has doctors from major health care centers in the area: Abington Jefferson Hospital, Jefferson Health, Aria Health, Christiana Care Health System, Cooper University Hospital, Holy Redeemer Hospital, Princeton HealthCare System, St. Peter's Healthcare System, Spinal Health & Rehab Center, and Wills Eye Hospital.

All have pledged their time & talents for the cause, finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes and its complications.

Over the past five years, the concert has raised $175,000, with the net proceeds going to JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.

Tickets are available online or at the door.

The "Rockin' Docs" concert was the brainchild of doctors Jeremy Jaffe, a diagnosed diabetic himself and the father of two diabetic children, and Kenneth Einhorn.

Nancy Wolfson, also the parent of children with Type 1 diabetes, was also involved in creating the concert.

Longtime members of rock bands, they thought it would be a way to raise money for a great cause and give other doctor-musicians a platform to express their "other side."

Dr. Jaffe says through JDRF, the concert is contributing to ground-breaking projects, "Like artificial pancreas technology, beta cell encapsulation, smart insulin that can turn on and off in response to blood sugar levels, and ultimately, methods for curing and preventing Type 1 diabetes."

He says the quality of the bands has grown over the year, and they, "uniformly have loved playing World Café Live. The production, sound, and light staff are top notch."

Plus, it's a good venue for audiences, too, bringing musicians up close.

The medical community has really gotten behind the concert, says Dr. Jaffe.

It's grown from 21 sponsors and 3 hospitals in 2011 to 86 sponsors and 7 hospitals and health systems this year.

And the lead sponsor for 2016 is Novo Nordisk, a major pharmaceutical company involved in diabetes products and research.

A custom-made guitar, valued at $1300 is also being raffled in conjunction with this year's event.

Dr. Jaffe says more and more doctor bands want to be involved in the concert, which seems to be unique, at least on the East Coast.

"There is a very real camaraderie that continues to develop amongst all the musicians and physicians," he says.

Some musician/physicians even play in more than one act.

Dr. Jaffe says "Rockin' Docs for a Diabetes cure" hopes to continue growing in future years, with discussion with some of the Delaware musician/physician bands about a "Rockin' Docs' concert at World Café Live in Wilmington.

In the meantime, they plan to shake the World Café Live Saturday night.

Take two (guitar) riffs, and call them in the morning.

For more info or to see videos from the 2015 concert: Rockin' Docs for a Diabetes Cure.