For my parents,
For my brother and others who stimulated me to be more
For early mentoring physicians Otto Smith, J.W. O’Bryant, Carlos Maruri, and Bert Hink who guided me
For the hands-on opportunities at Baylor COM and the Waco FP Program
For those in Nowata, OK who best
trained me, especially
Billie my nurse who said she would work for me a year and
stayed 4 yrs,
Homer Flora, D.O. who was the best organized office practitioner,
most comprehensive physician, and most motivated
learner I ever knew,
Terry Burge, M.D. who took a chance on me and brought me
into rural medicine, and
Wallace Goodman
who befriended me, translated rural to an urban boy, supported me and
protected me from myself.
For Rural Medical Educators - Tom Bruce, Tom Johnson, Don Madison, and others who first inspired me, Forrest Lang who mentored me, Bill Mygdal who organized me (you should have seen me before), Mike Sitorius and Keith Mueller who continue to support and inspire me, Tom Ricketts who virtually co-wrote my first publication, Ben Crabtree who broadened me, and the Minifellows, or should I say my co-Minifellows, who collaborated with me, motivated me, educated me, and continue to amaze me.
For Linda Nwosu, Carolyn McKinney, Cheryl Abboud, Kim Songster who "coordinated" me, and finally
For my wife, JoAnn, and family who continue to love and support me, even when there were times when my best efforts were not directed toward home
In the hopes that the nation will have more and better rural physicians soon and for all time, in what time is remaining.