Honoring Family Physicians for 50 Years in Medicine

• Louise Acheson, MD
• Robert Adams, MD, FAAFP
• Michael Armentrout, MD, FAAFP
• Ed Bope, MD, FAAFP

• John Brose, DO, FAAFP
• Jolinda Caswell, MD, FAAFP
• Alfred Cianflocco, MD, FAAFP
• John Davren, MD
• Herbert Estis Jr, MD, FAAFP
• Gary Fox, MD, FAAFP
• Eileen Goldman, MD
• Mary Hall, MD, FAAFP
• Richard Hines, MD
• Pat Jonas, MD
• Ronald Kahn, MD
• Sivaram Kollengode, MD
• Lonsdorf, MD
• Wilma Mansfield, MD, FAAFP
• Robert Martsolf, MD, FAAFP
• Polsley, MD, FAAFP
• Jerry Sell, MD, FAAFP
• Marcia Thomas, MD, FAAFP
• Michael Timpone, MD, FAAFP
• Veera Vadada, MD
• Carl Wehri, MD, FAAFP
• Mary Jo Welker, MD, FAAFP.

In recognition of their devotion to the craft of family medicine and outstanding community leadership, a commemorative pin has been commissioned in honor of our OAFP members who have practiced medicine for 50. Cast in sterling silver and blue enamel and boasting the words, “Dedication, Service, and Integrity,” this badge will serve as a symbol of the OAFP’s deep appreciation for a lifetime commitment to family medicine.

The OAFP is honored to share the following reflections and photographs submitted by this years’ class of “50 Years in Medicine” milestone members.

Louise Acheson, MD

I remember: learning, teaching, and advocating for women’s health, with strong women as colleagues and teachers all along.

Recognizing moments of growth when teaching residents: for example, a resident thought that the patient despised her. When we talked with the patient, she said that actually, most doctors acted as though they despised her, but this resident had treated her professionally with respect, so she trusts this resident to look out for her health.

Teaching medical students: Facilitating small groups in case-based learning. Advising mature students who had a different life before medical school.

From 35 years attending births: A couple of home births that I attended—so qualitatively different from births in medical facilities. Also, the Irishwoman who sat on a hospital rocking chair and sang through labor; the choir member whose choir gathered and sang together during her birth. Teaching obstetrical emergency care in the ALSO course. Working through real-life emergencies. Meeting grass-roots community members trying to make birth care better.

Research and journal editing: Meeting clinician-scientists from all over the world who are trying to make primary care better.

Family practice for 35 years in one place: Caring for some 4 generation families through life: parenting, growing up, birth, sickness, and death. Being able to remember family doctoring before the capitalist transformation of medical practice into an industry.

Ed Bope, MD, FAAFP

Certainly a highlight and special memory of my career was being president of the American Board of Family Medicine. At the time, I was the youngest person ever in that position. It shined a light on me, the Riverside Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, and the OAFP, and it gave me a seat at some very important tables. A more recent highlight is seeing the successful leadership positions, practices, and some retirements of former students and residents. It was all a labor of love, the perfect specialty, and the perfect career for me.

Jolinda Caswell, MD, FAAFP

The most memorable day was when I received notification that I was accepted into The Ohio State University medical school in 1973. Little did I know that would be the beginning of an unbelievable profession that has been challenging but most enjoyable. I have enjoyed and embraced being a family physician. My patients were a part of my family, and I was a part of theirs.

I do not have one most memorable moment, but many. Meeting a new, young OB physician when assisting him during a c-section in middle of night who later became my husband (despite being a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School). The sudden death of delightful two-year-old when frightened by his dog (autopsy showed IHSS); and being on call at the hospital overnight when the blizzard of ’78 hit and physicians/staff could not get in or out leaving us to respond to the needs of patients in the hospital. I retired as a full-time PCP (computer driven) in 2021 but have been able to continue my career precepting internal medical residents in their outpatient clinic. I am also a collaborator for nurse practitioners and physician assistants who see patients in urgent care centers. I am grateful and consider it a privilege to have been able to be a physician. That memorable day in 1973 made it all possible. Thank you Ohio State for giving me the opportunity. I am forever grateful. I am proud to be a Buckeye!

Herbert Estis Jr, MD, FAAFP

During my years of practice, it was seldom that I actually directly saved a life. A friend of mine was going to another doctor for headaches and since she was not getting better, she asked me to take an look. I immediately saw that she had a blown pupil and sent her to the ER for a CT scan. It revealed a large cystic mass pressing on her brain. She underwent surgery and made a marvelous recovery. Over 40 years later, we are still friends.

Mary Beth Hall, MD, FAAFP

It’s hard to believe I have reached the 50-year mark. There are many practice memories but one stands out—when I was close to my last day of practicing, one of my patients came in for a wellness exam. She made sure that it was scheduled on her 100^th birthday! We were ready with a cake and lots of singing—it is a great memory!

Pat Jonas, MD

A day in the life of a family physician—clinical care, emotional support, administrative responsibilities, and interdisciplinary collaboration are all woven together throughout a typical day.

I begin the day observing friendly interactions among my  office staff before reviewing a schedule filled with patients managing chronic pain, open appointments for acute illnesses, and a hospice luncheon. Administrative tasks include reviewing a diabetic patient’s overdue lab work and responding to questions about sports physicals and required work.

My first patient presents with arm pain and medication needs, but the visit quickly reveals recent family trauma, including the assault of his teenage son and the loss of an unborn grandchild. Along with addressing his medical concerns, the I provide compassionate support as the patient shares lyrics he wrote to honor the baby and discusses an upcoming motorcycle trip as a way to cope with his grief.

The next visit involves a patient with chronic pain and his partner. Through open-ended conversation, I assesses pain control, functional ability, exercise habits, and seasonal allergy symptoms while performing a comprehensive examination. The appointment is briefly interrupted by an important call from a hospice nurse, during which I collaborates on the care of a hospice patient and coordinates future treatment. Returning to the visit, I reinforce the importance of balancing activity with pain management, discuss the patient’s family, complete medication refills, and conclude the appointment with encouragement and well wishes before moving on to the next patient.

Ronald Kahn, MD

I have been fortunate to practice family medicine for over 50 years. Everyday I learned something new and was able to help others. Most of all, I am Appreciative that I was able to do this with a very sincere, compassionate, and devoted office nurse, Mary, for over 42 years of this endeavor. Collaboration with knowledgeable peers and cooperation between the practice and patients resulted in many great outcomes.

Eileen Goldman, MD

I practiced family medicine until I retired in 2015. It was very difficult for me to say goodbye to so many patients—they were like family and we shared good news and sometimes bad news as well. I cried a lot during the last 6 months of my practice when I started telling people about my retirement.

Since then, I still have volunteered as a physician in Ohio at Viola Startzman Health Clinic, and I continue to volunteer in Arizona with Mission of Mercy Clinic. I am happy to still be able to contribute a little bit of my experience to help others. In addition, I volunteered administering COVID vaccines during the pandemic.

This year, I was lucky enough to attend my 50^th medical school reunion. We did have a nice time reminiscing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the same. Our class had about 120 in the graduating class. Unfortunately, many couldn’t make it or are no longer with us.

I graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP), formerly the Women’s Medical College, in 1976. I was in the second class that admitted men, and our school continued to be dedicated to women physicians. Later MCP merged with Hahnemann Medical School. That school later became Drexel University Medical. It’s just not the same.

I am still proud to be a family physician and of being a member of the AAFP, especially in these times of politicizing medicine and science instead of leaving it up to experts, whether physicians or scientists.

Wilma Mansfield, MD, FAAFP

Thinking back over the past 50 years, many good memories, as well as several challenges, come to mind. I think my favorite centered around serving as the physician at a Prenatal Clinic at our local health department for 20+ years, especially when we started seeing the next generation coming through!  It was a bright (although sometimes challenging) spot in my week!

I worked in a rural county and the local hospital, which subsequently closed around 2000, no longer did deliveries. The clinic helped many start prenatal care much earlier than they otherwise would have. We followed them through 26 weeks, then referred to an OB-GYN in the surrounding counties.

Michael Timpone, MD, FAAFP

My most memorable practice event involved the birth of both of my daughters. By sheer coincidence, I was on OB call for both births. The first while in residency and the second at the naval hospital where I was stationed. In both cases, I did a delivery, rushed to the room next door to witness my daughter’s birth, and then immediately went to another room to perform another delivery, spending no more than five minutes in my wife’s delivery room. Of course, my wife accused me of setting the whole thing up.

Carl Wehri, MD, FAAFP

One of my favorite stories is in regard to a longtime patient of mine, a hard-working farmer and octogenarian.

One mid-winter day about 15 years ago, a heavy snowfall fell one night. A hard blowing wind piled snow about 2 feet deep in front of my office door preventing entrance to the facility.

I went to the attached garage, grabbed a snow shovel, and began the arduous task of clearing off the apron of the entrance so we might open the front door and see patients that day. No staff were available to help me as the roads were bad and they were snowed in.

After a short while a red pickup truck pulled up to the front door. An elderly man, known to me, got out of his truck and similarly grabbed a shovel from the truck bed. Without saying a word, began to move snow just I was doing. Neither one of us said anything for a few minutes, but just diligently worked the walkway.

With significant progress being made, I stopped to catch my breath and said rather dryly “Mighty nice day to be moving snow, don’t you think? Thanks for your help.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, Doc. I have an appointment this morning and my wife expects me home soon, and as I see it, the only way that’s going to happen is if I help you get in the front door.”

True story; Charlie was a dedicated patient for nearly 40 years!

Mary Jo Welker, MD, FAAFP

I picked up my first continuity patient my first month or so as an intern. She was a thin woman who was curled up in the fetal position on the gurney in a corner of the ED. My senior resident said she could be my first continuity patient. She had been treated elsewhere, but we worked with her and she got much better. She was a lovely woman with a great story. She had been a dancer with her husband. I took care of her for many years, along with her nephew and niece. We had a wonderful relationship, and I cared for her until she died. I still care for her niece today after 50 years and we still reminisce about Aunt Helen. That is the joy of continuity and being a family physician.