Louisville Medicine Volume 63, Issue 5 | Page 38

FROM THE BLOGOSPHERE LEADERSHIP, STEADFAST AND PLUCKY James Patrick Murphy, MD, MMM “He showed us daily, with his words and actions, what it really means to be a servant-leader.” – Bert Guinn, MBA, CAE, Executive Vice President, Greater Louisville Medical Society T oday was truly the end of an era for Louisville’s medical community. After 35 years of incredible service to the Greater Louisville Medical Society, Lelan Woodmansee is retiring. At stately Whitehall Mansion, hundreds gathered to say good-bye and thank you. Having now passed the baton (literally) to his protégé, Bert Guinn, Lelan and his soul mate, Marlena, will finally have time to travel, visit family, and enjoy a little down time. He will be missed, but his presence will be felt for generations to come. As Dr. Gordon Tobin so eloquently put it, “Our members are the bricks but Lelan was the mortar.” During my time with the GLMS, Lelan was more than my Chief Executive. He was my mentor, counselor and friend. He deserves an epic poem, however, it is late and an epic limerick will just have to do. Note: Dr. Murphy, board-certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Addiction Medicine, is the president and medical director of Murphy Pain Center. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and serves on the board of the International Association of Pain and Chemical Dependency and is a past president of GLMS. There was a young man named Woodmansee, Felt writing might tickle his fancy. He thought it was great, At Ohio State, But later he got really antsy. So traveled he down to Kentucky. For this we are all very lucky. He gave it his best, At GLMS, With leadership, steadfast and plucky. His value is more than you can see. He helped us be all that we can be. Three decades have gone, Now we say, “So long,” To our dear friend Lelan Woodmansee. He blogs at http://jamespmurphymd.com. This was posted on August 16, 2015. GLMS members are welcome to submit recent blog posts for possible publication in this space by emailing: [email protected]. 36 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE