DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR SERIES The Odyssey of a Gynecologic Oncologist

The medical world has turned over many times since I very rigorous training since it required rotating through all of the services, including head and neck, thoracic, gastric entered medical school, but my interest in the field of cancer has never changed. Dr. James Corscarden was an early speand mixed tumor, bone service, etc. She asked me where I had graduated from medical school and I told her that Dr. cialist in gynecologic cancer and his program for student teaching at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons Whipple had been the professor and chairman during my student years. Much to my surprise, a few days later, I rewas superb. He helped solidify my decision to pursue a career in gynecologic cancer. ceived an application, which I quickly filled out and returned. However, I did not want to be embarrassed by being turned When I started into the clinical part of medical sol in my third year, I was chosen to start my elective. I was fortunate down by any surgeon, so I did not ask for letters of recommendation. About a month later, Dr. John C. A. Gerster, a to have the opportunity to spend this time with Dr. Virginia Apgar, now famous for the Apgar score. After I completed famous surgeon, stopped me and asked if I was interested in the program at Memorial and I told him completely and her elective, Dr. Apgar gave me a position doing OB anesthesia during my third year of medical school. In addition, every totally. He asked why I had not sought letters of recommendation and I explained what I had been told when I visited third night in my fourth year, I often was back-up in the regular operating room. This was a tremendous help to me Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. I also told him that, although the general training in cancer therapy would be because it gave me room, board, and laundry, which was a great saving for me at that time. great, I told him that I wanted to have more exposure to gynecologic cancer with the world-famous Dr. Alexander It is interesting because Dr. Apgar had a program in which we had to collect data that carefully outlined the condition Brunschwig. However, in retrospect, I realized it was and is the only way to achieve an understanding of cancer in genof the baby at birth. Every morning Dr. Apgar would carefully go over these records with the person doing anesthesia eral and how it involves a variety of disciplines. During the Fall of 1951, I was notified of my appointment as a fellow during the night. Looking back, I realize that this was part of the basis for the now famous Apgar score. During these at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and immediately asked the dean to relieve me of my teaching responsibilities 2 years I lived in the hospital and had close contact with the gynecologists caring for cancer patients. This contact at the Oregon Medical School. We compromised and he stated that he wanted me to stay until the end of the academic increased my enthusiasm for pursuing training in this field. After I finished my training in Obstetrics & Gynecology, year and I agreed to do this. He also told me that he would be glad to pay my salary while I continued my training at I received an appointment as a full-time assistant professor at the University of Oregon Medical School and this proved Memorial with the understanding that I would return to the University of Oregon Medical School. I explained that this to be a great experience. Prior to my appointment at the University of Oregon Medical School, I had explored an was a great offer and opportunity, but I did not know what would happen during my training period, and that hopefully opportunity for receiving a fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, then called Memorial Hospital for CanI would receive another appointment. On entering the program at Memorial Hospital, I was told cer and Allied Diseases. I was politely received by everyone. When the secretary returned from talking to the Chief Mediby my fellow residents there that OB/GYN training would not supply a good enough background to qualify for this cal Officer, Dr. Alan O. Whipple, she asked about my specialty training and I told her that it was in gynecology. After highly competitive pyramid program. It was soon obvious to me that the fellows were a group of highly motivated, conveying this to the Chief Medical Officer, she returned and I was told that no gynecologist could qualify for this well-trained, and competitive candidates, some with sub-