From 1980 (graduation) through 1984 I volunteered for National Health Service Corps in Duplin County, North Carolina - a very rural location. I did lots of OB, lots of inpatient, lots of call. After 1984 it was clear the lifestyle was not working for my family so we moved back to Missouri (home state). I have worked in the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine system since then. For the first 5 years I worked in a rural clinic outside the Kansas City area doing basically what I did in North Carolina except I taught 1 day per week in the residency program. From 1989-1998 I was the Program Director of the residency program, from 1998-2001 I was Associate Chair of the department, and from 2001-2010 I was Chair of the department as well as Associate Medical Director for the hospital in which the residency was located. I meant to only take the Chair position for 2-3 years, but it turned into 9 years. Recently, another Chair was hired, thankfully. I am still the Associate Medical Director, but am spending more time seeing patients and teaching, which is what I should be doing.
One marriage, 4 kids, no credit card debt, still work out despite elevated BMI
Delivered well over 1000 babies; received teacher of the year award a couple of times; still love being a family physician
Travel
Lots of great memories - many of them personal, such as the birth of our two kids. Professionally: the time I spent working with Rand Hale at the VA and Tucson Medical Center - he was one wild and crazy guy.
I am still married to Nora, who has retired from psychiatric nursing and is a stay at home mom. The two kids who were born during our time in Tucson are still in the KC area. Zachary has been married 9 years, no kids yet, works in a bank and as a musician. Laura lives in Blue Springs, is single, and works in Human Resources at a large business in the KC area. When they were in high school, Nora and I became foster parents, and, though we did not plan to adopt children, ended up adopting two girls. Caroline is 16 and Rebecca is 14. Both in high school, both very busy, and we are very busy with horse shows, school activities, etc.