Thanks for the Memories

Published on Wednesday, April 13, 2022

By: Douglas Bacon, M.D., M.A., F.A.S.A.

The decision to retire on March 31, 2022, was not an easy one. Over the past seven and a half years, my life has intertwined with every member of the department and the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Being a department chair was a lifelong career dream, and everyone made my time very special. Together we have built a strong academic department. Everyone bought into the vision I articulated and made it a reality. It is an achievement we will never forget.

So from where does the title for this, my last chair message come? Interestingly enough, it was the theme song from comedian Bob Hope. Growing up, his Christmas specials were “must see” television in my household. Personally, his interactions with Bing Crosby and the host of stars over the hour made me laugh and was a great distraction while waiting for the magic of Christmas morning. But I also clearly remember the part of the show where Mr. Hope would entertain our military, far flung from home at holiday time. Even more interesting, he performed for the United States Service Organization almost continually from World War Two until the Gulf War. He and his entourage were often in harms way, and the military transport airplanes upon which they flew were always a target. I remember feeling sorry for him that he was not at home with his family for the holidays.

Bob Hope’s theme song, Thanks for the Memory (1), does in many ways sum up our shared experience. The song itself is about an amicable end to a romantic relationship with Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938. Most importantly, the song shares the strengths of a relationship, how it matured, and the long-lasting respect each partner has for the other. Together we faced the challenges of the last seven years adapting and moving forward. We left the “Department of Preventative Surgery” far behind developing and expanding expertise in critical care, pediatric anesthesia, pain medicine, residency and fellowship education and student nurse anesthetist training. We touched every clinical aspect of UMMC and numerous administrative areas.
Many of our accomplishments are plain to see. We helped our liver transplant program grow into the third best in the country. While clearly our surgeons are extraordinary, it is the liver transplant anesthesia team and our contributions to critical care medicine that have significantly backed this achievement. Together we expanded residency training, created two new fellowships, expanded a third and started down the road to a fourth. Student nurse anesthetist training was reestablished. Administratively, our infrastructure has allowed us to teach intravenous sedation to pediatric dental students, and cover advance practice critical care nurses during the pandemic and currently take administrative and clinical leads in areas that are not traditionally run by anesthesiology. Lest I fail to mention our techs ensuring every day that the necessary supplies and equipment was ready and available. Finally, Kasey Broussard and his administrative team have worked tirelessly to grow the budget and find the resources necessary to carry the department’s load. Truly, the new departmental motto, “The incredible we do immediately, the impossible just takes a little longer” has been integral to our success.

There were times of pain as well. It seems that death has been the bookend of my tenure. In 2015 Dr. Luis De Lima left us. In January of 2022 we lost Heather Taylor, CRNA and Kirk Reid, MD; two vital and energetic members of the department. Together we have faced these tragedies and supported each other. During the seven years, there were times of anesthesiologists’ and nurse anesthetists’ shortages and the team rose the occasion continuing to care for our patients with the highest skill possible. We worked through the pandemic, as front-line clinicians, fearing for our own safety yet seeking opportunities to care for patients and each other. Our donning and doffing simulations were a major step forward to helping the teams caring for COVID patients.

There are several lines in Thanks for the Memory that resonate. The third last stanza--"We said goodbye…we were intelligent people, No tears, no fuss, Hooray for us", reminds me of the wonderful sendoff given to me in the Anesthesia Library. The rocking chair has been a comfort as it reminds me daily of the love we have for each other. As my family and I transition back to Western New York, and Buffalo, my hometown, the last stanza rings true; "Awfully glad I met you, Cheerio and toodle-oo, Thank you, Thank you so much". I hold memories of UMMC, our department and each and every one of you near and dear to my heart. You are often in my thoughts and always in my prayers.

Thanks for the Memories!!!!

1. The lyrics for the song can be found at: http://www.songlyrics.com/bob-hope-shirley-ross/thanks-for-the-memory-lyrics/ accessed April28, 2022