IN REMEMBRANCE
A LIFE WELL-LIVED , A CAREER REVERED GLENN E . LAMBERT , JR ., MD 11 / 23 / 45-5 / 26 / 21
Credit : Kirk Schlea Photography / Schlea Visual Arts
I
remember this day well , July 1 , 1975 . I was a brand-new surgery intern , freshly graduated , eager , yet painfully green , and scared to death . On that day , I met the Chief Surgical Resident , Dr . Glenn Lambert . Louisville General Hospital was a charity teaching hospital staffed primarily by residents , interns and medical students . Glenn emanated all the qualities the Chief Surgical Resident should possess : superior intelligence , swaggering confidence , technical excellence and an unwavering work ethic . I knew immediately that Glenn personified the surgeon that I hoped to become . Little did I know at that time that we would form a friendship and partnership that would span over 46 years .
It was during his chief year that Glenn taught me how to be a surgical resident . He led by example , ingraining the principles of hard work and intellectual honesty . He taught me the joy of teaching junior residents and medical students , which he always found to be so invigorating and rewarding . He taught me how to deal with faculty , appreciating and learning from their skills and experience , while simultaneously processing constructive criticism . He taught me the invaluable lesson of being organized and well prepared , especially during “ walk rounds ” and Morbidity and Mortality Conference . Following his chief year of residency , our paths diverged as Glenn fulfilled his military obligation , subsequent vascular fellowship and entry into private practice in Louisville , during which time I completed my general surgery residency , a two-year faculty appointment and vascular fellowship in Milwaukee . After my fellowship , I was offered the opportunity to join Glenn in private practice in Louisville , and of course I was humbled and honored to be asked .
It was over the next 32 years that Glenn taught me the “ art ” of practicing medicine as a vascular surgeon . I had no previous experience in the “ business ” side of medicine , managing office staff , dealing with the economics of insurance , retirement plans and accounting issues as well as the importance of communicating with referring doctors . Glenn was a master in these areas and worked hard at trying to teach me these facets which were so important at that time . To say that Glenn ’ s patients loved him is an extreme understatement . And oh , the “ little old grandmothers .” We cared for patients of all ages , gender , races and creeds but it was this group of women who absolutely loved Glenn , that I so vividly remember . They would “ return for follow-up ” long after their original problem had long been resolved . They never came empty-handed and delighted me and our office staff with homemade cakes , cookies and treats . On the rare occasion , when Glenn was unavailable , I would cover his appointments and see them in the office . Frequently , I would be reminded that although I was a “ nice young man ,” I was not Dr . Lambert .
I believe Glenn had a photographic memory and rarely forgot anything as evidenced by his ability to repeatedly score above the 90 th percentile every year he was required to take the recertifying
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