Resident Class of 1971
Prior to the building of Mott Hospital all pediatric procedures were performed in the Main Hospital operating rooms. There were no surgeons or anesthesiologists whose practices were dedicated to pediatrics. In fact, there was considerable resistance to the development of pediatric specialists. An often made statement was that, “A properly trained anesthesiologist should do everything well.” Doctor Sweet designated Ken Levin and Ed Lowe to head up the new pediatric anesthesia section and to assist in the planning and equipping of the new operating rooms.
The first case performed was a nighttime emergency in early 1970. I was a first year resident and Allan Stoddard was my senior resident as I remember, the case proceeded without incident and was proof of the excellent planning of Levin and Lowe.
I followed Levin and Lowe as Director of Pediatric Anesthesia at Mott. Training for me was mainly on the job with lots of help from Jim Kryvicki, Ann Hill, and Georgine Steude. Dr. Sweet pretty much gave us a free hand. With the addition of Keith Lieding, the Anesthesia Department at Mott developed a character so that during those years it was an exciting, fun place to work, teach, and learn. Our nurse anesthetists were smart, capable, and attractive. Many a male resident was smitten by the goddesses of gas at Children’s.
Innovative developments were happening in pediatric medicine, such as PEEP, which revolutionized the care of newborns, myocardial preservation techniques in cardiac surgery, hyperalimentation in pediatric surgery, deliberate hypotension hemodilution, and intraoperative wake-up techniques in orthopedics, and all of the new invasive and non-invasive methods of monitoring which have now become routine. In addition to all of these developments, a core of pediatric specialists came to Mott to create a pediatric surgical center which is now respected throughout the world. Twenty years ago we were all just out of our residencies and were in our first jobs. That group included Doug Behrendt, Cardiac Surgery; Ed Tank and Arnie Coran in Pediatric Surgery; Bob Hensinger in Orthopedic Surgery; and Steve Koff, in Urology. It was a unique situation. We were all of a similar vintage, liked each other, and worked and played hard together. There were many TGIF’s at Frazier’s pub with nurses, residents, and junior faculty commiserating on our Nobel Prize prospects or how we should have, could have, published the article that was then achieving acclaim in the medical world. Mainly though, we sipped a few, gossiped, and were dazzled by Keith Lieding’s humor. We all felt fortunate to work at Mott and felt somewhat elitist by being a part of it all.
I left Mott Hospital in 1977 to go into private pediatric anesthesia practice at Children’s Hospital of San Diego. I have made frequents visits to Ann Arbor and the Mott Hospital. It did not seem like it had been 20 years since the Mott opened until Allan Brown asked me to compose this brief reminiscence. Times have changed. Today it would be unheard of to have a non-pediatric specialist working in the Mott ORs. Quality publications in pediatric anesthesia are coming from Mott Anesthesia Department. The new hospital we broke in 20 years ago is beginning to look a little shop-worn, especially compared to the new Main Hospital. I have thought often about those years in the early 70’s. Keith and I would do something outrageous with the nurses or residents and Georgine would look at us and just shake her head. Keith would turn to me and say,”Jordy, that was a head shaker.” It really was wonderful to have been there at that time with all those wonderful people.
I am still practicing and teaching anesthesia in San Diego. Anita remains my bride of 26 years, despite living in California for the past 11 years. Steve graduated from Tufts University this spring and Elizabeth is beginning her senior year in high school. I taught and practiced pediatric anesthesia in Nairobi, Kenya one summer and make frequent trips to Mexico with some of the local plastic surgeons and their residents. I still play hard, work hard, and enjoy practicing pediatric anesthesia.
Originally published September, 1988