HONORING AN EARLY ADVOCATE
When retired Tallahassee surgeon Ray Bellamy was invited for a recognition ceremony at the College of Medicine , he didn ’ t realize he ’ d be part of an impromptu history lesson .
Not many people remember how precarious the college ’ s accreditation process had become in the early years of its development . Nor did many outside the college ’ s leadership recognize the magnitude of Dr . Bellamy ’ s behind-the-scenes contributions .
A few dozen friends and supporters heard the full story during the ceremony held in his honor ( and to his surprise ).
Myra Hurt , professor emeritus at the College of Medicine and the school ’ s initial acting dean , told the crowd how eager the Liaison Committee on Medical Education ( LCME ) had been at that time to deny the medical school ’ s accreditation . “ They were looking for an excuse ,” Hurt said .
And they almost found it when FSU accepted a large donation from a group interested in opening a “ school of chiropractic medicine ” within the FSU College of Medicine .
“ They flat out told me , ‘ Myra , if you do this , we will kill your accreditation ,’” Hurt said .
Bellamy , outraged at the idea , rallied other Tallahassee physicians and began to strategically lobby against the proposal . He led a systematic submission of letters-to-the-editor pointing out the folly of asking a medical school ( especially a new one struggling to gain full accreditation for the first time ) to align itself with a chiropractic school .
Ultimately , Bellamy ’ s efforts prevailed . The plan was scrapped , the large donation was returned , and the FSU College of Medicine overcame the last of the obstacles blocking its path to accreditation . The rest , of course , is history .
College of Medicine Dean John P . Fogarty thanked Bellamy and his son , Dr . David Bellamy , for their generous support over the years . After speeches by Hurt , Bellamy and his son , the college unveiled a
Dr . David Bellamy ( left ) and his father , Dr . Ray Bellamy . storyboard plaque permanently affixed in the atrium that tells the story of Bellamy ’ s contributions .
Well , not the entire story . You had to be there for that .
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