1

Residency memories from Jay Butler, M.D.

(Residency Graduate 1972)

First thought: the interview process at Barnes was typical except Dr. Reynolds

was away and Dr. Stamp asked if I would be able to get away again to meet

him. I was stationed in the islands, but we agreed to try to meet in San Fran-

cisco at the next Academy meeting that next winter as Dr. Reynolds was presi-

dent of the Academy and would for sure be there. Ruth ("the boss") called me

after the next New Years and we agreed on a meeting assuming I could get a

flight out and that I would be allowed to leave (I was on active duty in the Navy

and just starting my third of five years).

At the Academy I met Dr. Stamp in their suite and he reviewed my "CV" where

upon Dr. Reynolds rushed in, slowed down, and we had a good conversation.

He then looked at his watch and excused himself and off to his next meet-

ing. Before he got to the door he turned, we shook hands, and he said "sounds

fine". That was our contract!!! There never was any written contract, "man's

word is his bond". That was

my first lesson in his ethical

grounding!".

In my second year I was at Jewish

Hospital and would keep my

eye out for interesting cases going

on across the street. One Tues-

day Dr. Reynolds had a total hip

scheduled and talking to the

"AR's" an extra set of hands would

be helpful. Thus I went by and saw

the patient that evening and was in

the OR ready to go at 7:30 the next

AM. The usual crew were all set

and ready to start. Dr. Reynolds arrived and said he had to run to the office

and would be back directly--then added---"go ahead and start!". Just what did

that mean? After much prodding by the staff, the anesthetic was administered

and the patient positioned, but still no Dr. Reynolds. We waited some more and

after more prodding, we started the case. Everything went smoothly, exposure,

acetabular preparation positioned and cemented the socket, verified the position

with the guide, and prepared the femur. About an hour after he left, Dr. Rey-

nolds returned and said, “Wait a minute.” Gowned and gloved, he double

checked everything with intermittent grumbling sounds, said, "mix the cement",

and finished the case, leaving us to close. Later in the day when he called and

wanted to talk to me I thought, “Uh-oh, I’m dead!” I met him in his office and

he looked up and said, with a half smile, "You are welcome to do my cases any

time, just be sure you've talked to the patient" and excused himself and took a

long distance call. All I could say was, “Yes sir!”

In the third year, I was Chief resident and took a patient to the OR with a dis-

ruption of nearly all the ligaments about the knee. I quickly realized I was in

over my head and "slightly lost". Dr. Reynolds was next door and I asked if he

would come over and help me out. He quickly sorted things out and showed me

how he went about doing those kinds of cases as he went along. The actual

repair wasn't all that difficult, but the learning was worth the whole resi-

dency! I can truly say that I never got lost again. He was an incredible talent!

On a more personal level I ended up with call on my first night as a resident.

As I got ready to go home Monday after work, I discovered that my car was

gone, stolen. I had to buy a strip model Ford which lasted through residency.

After residency I (we) had some tough decisions to make around where to land.

Offers from the St. Louis area were very generous and tempting, but in the end

we returned to Portland, Oregon

where my practice quickly evolved

along the lines of "work"( joint

replacement) and "hobby-

fun" (sports medicine).

After 32 years my practice came to

a crescendo finish, wrapping up

my years on our NW Oregon

Providence Health System Board.

This included a five year hitch

establishing and developing the

"Medical affairs" role/function and

a stint as chairman, completing R

& D projects around next generation surgical navigation for two large compa-

nies, finishing development of a next generation hip stem and an instrumenta-

tion set of total knee jigs around the concepts of "system thinking", and finally

as a member of the regional management team for the health system. Last but

not least, seeing to a large number of patients that I promised to take care of

before I retired.

I now live in the "high desert" of central Oregon on 86 acres where we care for

our Andalusian horses, a quieter existence. Now I ride "1 horse power" or at

other times 100+ horse power just for fun.

Volume 1 (2) July 2010

It’s great to hear from alumni! Please send your news (i.e. marriage, birth, jobs, etc.) to Sheryl Wunderlich, at wunderlichs@wustl.edu

or by mail to : Campus Box 8233, 660 S Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

J. Albert Key Washington University Orthopedic Alumni Society Newsletter

Where Are They Now?

Join Us on Facebook Washington University Orthopedics is now on Facebook! Connect with us by clicking on the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Louis-MO/Washington-University-Orthopedics-The-Key-Connection/119576828065079

The 2010 Chief Residents, the

newest members of the J. Albert

Key Orthopaedic Alumni Society,

were presented membership certifi-

cates during graduation festivities

on Friday, June 18. The Pictured

above (from left to right) are Jakub

Langer, Joyce Wilson, Ravi

Bashyal, Julienne Boone and Nirav

Shah. Other new members include

graduating fellows Samuel Cho,

Bradley Ellison, Matthew Kang,

Mike Kim, Brian Kleiber, Marc

Kowalsky, TR Lewis, Chris Nel-

son, Joshua Pahys, Charles Paik,

Jeff Pike, Ryan Pitts, Greg

Polkowski, Monica Rho, Nikki

Strauss, Chi-Tsai Tang, Nate Van

Zeeland and Luke Zebala.

Residents, Fellows, Faculty, Alumni and the 2010 J. Albert Key Visiting Professor, Dr. William Maloney,

braved the heat and humidity at the Annual Alumni Golf Tournament, held at Gateway National Golf Course

in Madison, Illinois. Team Hepper, Bashyal, Nepple and Paxton were declared the winners and Team Calfee,

Bogunovic, Wall, and White were awarded special trophies for finishing last. Jim Ross hit the longest drive

and Scott Paxton was closest to the pin. Nirav Shah was awarded the coveted green jacket for losing the most

balls. Mark your calendars for the 2011 Alumni Golf Tournament, which will be held on Thursday, June 2,

2011 (location will be forthcoming).

Foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Jeremy McCormick, wife Maggie and big sister, Gabby, welcomed Benjamin

David to their family on June 14.

Record Holder:

Bill Geidemann (1999 residency graduate) and 3 friends recently set a Guinness Book of Record for the Long-

est Marathon Doubles Tennis Match. They played 50 hours and 8 seconds of consecutive tennis over 3 days,

shattering the previous record of 48 hours and 15 minutes. In the process, they raised over $50,000 to resur-

face six tennis courts at the local YMCA.

Obituary:

Pearce Browning, III of Norwich Connecticut (1961 residency graduate) passed away earlier this year. Dr.

Browning was a peer of Drs. Arthur Stein and Harry Morgan. Dr. Browning was very much a Renaissance

man. He loved colonial history, he made silver spoons on his forge like Paul Revere, and he put hardwood

floors in his house from trees he cut on his property. He was a Past President of the Connecticut Orthopedic

Society, and in that capacity, he ushered in the era of medical politics. He realized that the political arm of the

society was as important as the educational arm in upholding the quality of care. He had a dry sense of humor

and he loved orthopedic surgery. He was a friend of mine who will be sorely missed. Ron Ripps, MD (1975

residency graduate)

Growing Families:

2010 Alumni Golf Tournament:

Graduation 2010:

Congratulations to the 2010 Chief Residents! The 2010 Class was honored to have Dr. William J. Maloney

return to St. Louis as the 2010 J. Albert Key Visiting Professor. The scientific program on Friday morning

began with Dr. Maloney’s talk, followed by research presentations by each of the Chief Residents. The

Chiefs also shared their international rotation experiences. Jakub Langer was awarded the Resident Research

Award and Jay Keener was presented the Lee T. Ford Award for Academic Achievement. Graduation dinner

on Friday evening was held at the St. Louis Club. The residents presented Dr. Perry Schoenecker with the

Palma Chironis Award, David Bumpass the Resident Teaching Award, and Ryan Nunley the Jerome J. Gilden