A giant passed away recently. Dr. Ralph Feigin, physician-in-chief of Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) and head of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
A man with a humongous intellect and encyclopedic knowledge about all matters pediatric. Tuesday mornings at TCH were marked by Feigin Rounds (aka “Stump Dr. Feigin”). Residents and fellows would present to him the toughest cases and he, without turning a hair or blinking an eye, would reel off a myriad of possible diagnoses, finally settling on one that was always perfectly on target. One of the sharpest men I’ve ever known!
Compassionate towards his patients, but even more, passionate for his residents in pediatrics. He was utterly dedicated to his trainees. He once said:
“One of the greatest impacts I will have is as a role model and teacher to thousands of residents. Personally, I could treat maybe 50,000 patients in my lifetime, but with teaching the impact may be 50 million through students and the impact they have on their patients and pediatric research.”
In all, Feigin trained more than 2,000 pediatricians and pediatric specialists. Of those, 2 went on to become medical school deans, 22 became associate medical school deans, 10 became pediatrics department chairmen, and 180 became section heads of pediatrics. And at least one became a seminary prof!
Besides conducting my doctoral research and post-doctoral work in TCH, one of the foremost children’s hospitals in the world, I had the privilege of working for a year as an intern in pediatrics under Dr. Feigin. While my personal contact with him was limited, it was impossible not to be touched one way or another by this great man’s shadow. His enthusiasm for his subject, his charity towards his patients, his legendary benevolence to his residents and his selfless desire to see them succeed, were incredibly infectious. You couldn’t but be charged around him and driven to excel. A revered teacher. A role model. A father figure. A powerhouse of influence. And he cared! (Just read all the stories memorializing him online here.)
As we believers grow in Christ and mature in Christlikeness, we, too, are called to be influencers, by our words, our passion, and our character—the Aristotelian triad of logos, pathos, and ethos. Like Paul.
And what kind of men did they prove to be?
A pouring out of life to influence others in their walk with God.
Influencing others for God. May that characterize each of us.
A man with a humongous intellect and encyclopedic knowledge about all matters pediatric. Tuesday mornings at TCH were marked by Feigin Rounds (aka “Stump Dr. Feigin”). Residents and fellows would present to him the toughest cases and he, without turning a hair or blinking an eye, would reel off a myriad of possible diagnoses, finally settling on one that was always perfectly on target. One of the sharpest men I’ve ever known!
Compassionate towards his patients, but even more, passionate for his residents in pediatrics. He was utterly dedicated to his trainees. He once said:
“One of the greatest impacts I will have is as a role model and teacher to thousands of residents. Personally, I could treat maybe 50,000 patients in my lifetime, but with teaching the impact may be 50 million through students and the impact they have on their patients and pediatric research.”
In all, Feigin trained more than 2,000 pediatricians and pediatric specialists. Of those, 2 went on to become medical school deans, 22 became associate medical school deans, 10 became pediatrics department chairmen, and 180 became section heads of pediatrics. And at least one became a seminary prof!
Besides conducting my doctoral research and post-doctoral work in TCH, one of the foremost children’s hospitals in the world, I had the privilege of working for a year as an intern in pediatrics under Dr. Feigin. While my personal contact with him was limited, it was impossible not to be touched one way or another by this great man’s shadow. His enthusiasm for his subject, his charity towards his patients, his legendary benevolence to his residents and his selfless desire to see them succeed, were incredibly infectious. You couldn’t but be charged around him and driven to excel. A revered teacher. A role model. A father figure. A powerhouse of influence. And he cared! (Just read all the stories memorializing him online here.)
As we believers grow in Christ and mature in Christlikeness, we, too, are called to be influencers, by our words, our passion, and our character—the Aristotelian triad of logos, pathos, and ethos. Like Paul.
… for our gospel did not
come to you in word only,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men
we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
come to you in word only,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men
we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
And what kind of men did they prove to be?
… we proved to be gentle among you,
as a nursing mother
tenderly cares for her own children.
Having so fond an affection for you,
we were well-pleased to impart to you
not only the gospel of God
but also our own lives,
because you had become very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:7–8
as a nursing mother
tenderly cares for her own children.
Having so fond an affection for you,
we were well-pleased to impart to you
not only the gospel of God
but also our own lives,
because you had become very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:7–8
A pouring out of life to influence others in their walk with God.
… we were exhorting and encouraging
and imploring each one of you
as a father would his own children,
so that you would walk in a manner
worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:11–12
A worthwhile investment of life indeed. And it will get its reward.and imploring each one of you
as a father would his own children,
so that you would walk in a manner
worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:11–12
For who is our hope or joy
or crown of exultation?
Is it not even you,
in the presence of our Lord Jesus
at His coming?
1 Thessalonians 2:19
or crown of exultation?
Is it not even you,
in the presence of our Lord Jesus
at His coming?
1 Thessalonians 2:19
Influencing others for God. May that characterize each of us.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment