From the
PRESIDENT
JOHN L. ROBERTS, MD
GLMS President | [email protected]
WELCOME TO THE CLASS OF 2020
O
n Sunday, July 24th I had the honor of representing your Greater
Louisville Medical Society at the
University of Louisville School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony. One hundred
fifty-six newly accepted medical school
students were recognized before their
families and friends, given their first white
coat, a professional self-portrait in their new
white coats, compliments of your society,
and a new stethoscope compliments of U
of L Medical School alumni. In addition
to myself, Dean Ganzel, Dr. Greg Postel,
Vice President of Health Affairs, and Dr.
Barry Kerzin, a personal physician of the
Dalai Lama, spoke. Dr. Kerzin spoke of the
importance of compassion for oneself and
for your patients in sustaining a successful
and rewarding career. Here is what I said
on behalf of your society.
man aspiring to be a physician, Martin
Arrowsmith, is told by an old Doc Vickerson, “The physician’s library needs just
three books, Martin: ‘Gray’s Anatomy,’ the
Bible and Shakespeare! You’ll make a fine
doctor, Martin.”
“Thank you Dean Ganzel for the opportunity to address the class of 2020 this afternoon.
In addition, GLMS is providing a complimentary professional portrait of you in
your new white coat, immediately following
this ceremony. At our table, you will receive
a complimentary 5 X 7 print, and the free
student membership in your society will
be activated.
I am Doctor John Roberts, president
of the Greater Louisville Medical Society.
Starting today the Greater Louisville Medical Society is now YOUR society.
GLMS began in 1892 and so your society
has seen over 124 medical school classes
start and graduate. But I am sure yours will
be the best class ever!
I say over 124 classes because, back in the
1800s, medical training could be as short as
three months, and several classes would be
graduated each year.
Now, if you are sitting there thinking the
path you are on can be completed in three
months, we need to talk.
In the Sinclair Lewis 1925 Nobel Prize
winning novel, “Arrowsmith,” the young
You too will make fine doctors!
But, if you are sitting there thinking,
“Great, all I need to do is go out back and
buy ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ at the bookstore table
and I’m all set,” we need to talk.
Today will be an unforgettable day in
your professional life and in the memories
of your families. Your Greater Louisville
Medical Society wants to help you mark
the beginning of your medical career. We
are proud to be a sponsor of this ceremony
and to provide you with your first white coat
and a GLMS lapel pin as our gift.
I could go on and on about the support
that your society will provide for you in the
next four years and in your professional
career – but I suspect you have other things
on your mind today, and what I would say
would not be remembered. Just know that
your society is here for you.
Let me leave you with this. When I was a
medical student, Dr. Billy F. Andrews, the
chairman of the Department of Pediatrics
at the time, told me the following:
The science of medicine has come a long
way since the 1800s and old Doc Vickerson. But the art of medicine has proven to
be timeless. In the busy days ahead do not
forget the altruism and compassion, the
desire to help people in their neediest of
times, that caused you to take this path. Do
not forget to console your patients. Do not
forget to CARE for your patients.
Perhaps in future years you will stand before a similar group and tell the story of how
old Doc Roberts once said, “The physician’s
library today still needs just three books –
first, the Bible (or some other spiritual text),
second, Shakespeare (for where else can
you find in one collection examples of all
the characters, drama, joy and pathos that
play out on the stage of life), and third, this
(holding up my cell phone) - your smart
phone – your portal to all the books, articles,
and electronic medical records you will need
to take care OF your patient. But it will be
up to you, and the heart within you, to care
FOR your patient.
I, on behalf of GLMS, congratulate you
and your families and wish you all success
in the next four years and in all of your
professional career.
Thank you.”
The audience applauded when I finished
(perhaps glad that the ordeal was over with).
Dr. Roberts is a neonatologist with the University of Louisville Physicians and the Vice
Dean for Graduate Medical Education and
Continuing Medical Education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
“To diagnose, to prognose, to treat when
and if necessary, but above all else, to console – that is the charge of the physician.”
SEPTEMBER 2016
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