This work led to his lifelong surgical research interests in both surgical infections and the bacteriology of burns.
His book is particularly fascinating for ULSOM grads; we learn much about his senior faculty surgeons like Dr. J. David Richardson, Dr. Serge Martinez, Dr. Jeff Wieman, Dr. Gary Vitale, Dr. Neal Garrison( who engineered the development of KODA, the organ transplant matching group), Dr. Kelly McMasters( his successor as chair), Dr. Earl Gaar, Dr. Bill Cheadle, Dr. Jeff Allen and Dr. Frank Miller, who won the faculty teaching award so often than it was named for him. One can only learn to operate by first observing and then doing, slowly earning increasing levels of responsibility as one’ s judgment and technical expertise grow. We as doctors know how much we love and revere our particular mentors, holding them always in our grateful hearts. One of my favorite quotes comes from our Dr. Jeff Allen, who in his youth was a hotwalker on the backside at Churchill, and later,“ a lively seller of juleps in the clubhouse on Derby Day.” He told Dr. Polk what his Centre College football coach always said:“ It is not a sin to get blocked, but it is a sin to stay blocked.” This maxim describes well the life of a doctor not only in training, but in practice. Dr. Allen has since shared thoroughbred breeding schemes with Dr. Polk.
Dr. Polk had another great endeavor in his life, tracing back to his Harvard days; for instance, he saw Eddie Arcaro on Bold Ruler and Nashua in 1956 at Belmont. He became fascinated with thoroughbred racing and thoroughbred bloodlines and most of all, with his beloved mare, Mrs. Revere. He met Queen Elizabeth one day at Keeneland when his mare was racing, and noted that the Queen“ wryly” commented,“ Doctor, a very nice name. Good luck.” He became close friends with Wayne Lukas and his son Jeff.
Dr. Polk notes with dismay the various scandals that had involved various prominent people at UofL some years ago. He noted the cleanup process was painful but utterly necessary for the university to regain its footing and reputation. On a more cheerful note, he applauds the increasing number of highly qualified female applicants for surgical residencies and fellowships, and relates how Sue Berberich, RN( now a highly respected ophthalmologist), once asked him if a nurse could possibly apply and then excel in medical school. He told her,“ If anyone can, it is you!”
Another excellent Fellow of the Price Institute of Surgical Research was his wife Dr. Susan Galandiuk, who established the first colorectal surgery training program associated with UofL’ s general surgery residency. He told her after her initial presentation( given while she was still a surgical resident at the Cleveland Clinic) at the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract,“ First class!” Many of his trainees have yearned to hear that from him. When she moved here to do her research at the Price Institute, she noted that Kentuckians“ were polite and spoke differently,” an observation that I love – we are and we do.
His theme throughout never loses sight of the most important person in the OR – the patient – and by extension, the most important people in the waiting room are that patient’ s family. He discusses talking to patients and their loved ones: clearly, simply, taking the time needed to answer questions; this is how trust is built and then maintained.
Dr. Polk noted that,“ As a longtime enthusiastic but impecunious horseman, I was amazed to have been elected to the Jockey Club in 2000, and even more amazed to be selected to its board of stewards in 2013.” He also felt deeply complimented when Dr. J. David Richardson called him a horseman!
After the death of the horse Eight Belles just after she finished second to Big Brown in the 2008 Derby, he was glad to help, at the invitation of Ogden( aka Dinny) Phipps, with establishing a new Safety Committee of The Jockey Club. The Committee has since established a racing surfaces database, a national equine injury database, established standard reporting of necropsy findings, set biomarkers for therapeutic ultrasounds and cleaned up allowed race-day medications, among many other focused initiatives. Dr. Polk notes there is much work still to be done to safeguard both horses and the betting public.
Toward the end of his book, Dr. Polk notes the maxim,“ The right illness, the right surgeon, the correct operation... and a predictably good outcome.” My favorite quote, however, is this one.“ The less personal involvement by the physician, the less effective that treatment will be, and the entire experience for both the patient and the doctor will be more inadequate than satisfying.”
This community should thank our lucky stars that Dr. Polk chose us back in 1971. His retinue of superbly trained surgeons has saved many thousands of us over the years. First class!
Dr. Barry is an internist and Associate Professor of Medicine( Gratis Faculty) at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, currently retired and mulling her next moves.
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