Resident and Fellow Appreciation Celebrations

“In addition to the residency itself, the Department of Community Medicine also introduced the concept of having Dartmouth medical students rotate in rural practices, to familiarize them with the joys and challenges of such work. I also recall the beginning of the Dartmouth/Northern New England COOP Project, a primary care research consortium that’s still active, engaging rural clinicians with Dartmouth researchers in meaningful studies addressing clinical challenges in primary care, which were rarely addressed by university research teams.

“In brief, I had the extraordinary opportunity to teach and do primary care research all my years in New London. At the same time, I had long, close personal and clinical relationships with patients (who were often friends), and similarly long-standing relationships and friendships with the whole New London team and with colleagues elsewhere—at Mt. Ascutney, APD, and numerous independent practices. These were all immensely valued relationships.

“I learned that many of the valuable realities in life come less from deliberate planning and more from unexpected opportunities!

“I retired from New London Hospital in late 2017 at age 74 but continued working with Lake Sunapee VNA Hospice and Woodlawn Nursing Home in Newport, N.H., until June 2022, when I let my medical license expire at age 78. I miss the joy of the relationships and the challenges of clinical practice but am aware of the cognitive and physical demands of practicing medicine; we have to know when it’s time to withdraw.

“I worry that the world of clinical medicine is changing dramatically, due not only to COVID but also to all the administrative/nonclinical responsibilities that threaten to take away much of the joy we knew, when the greatest amount of our time was spent tending to people we cared about. I hope that somehow healthcare can reclaim the joy I was fortunate to experience for 50 years.

“I have three wonderful children and four grandchildren, a most wonderful

DHMC celebrated Resident and Fellow Appreciation Week January 15-21. The Alumni Engagement Office sponsored breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all and gave out reusable lunch containers and green beanies. Here, Geisel students display the cookies and appreciative posters they contributed alongside Alumni Engagement. We hope to hear from these very trainees soon within these pages.

(and forgiving) spouse, and a young cockapoo puppy, all within hailing distance—and am getting used to my less work-scheduled days, allowing me to enjoy the blessings of family and the New England environment! Blessings and warm regards to all.”

James Evans (General Surgery ’71-76) also shared word of the recent loss from our ranks: “Alumni who knew him and worked with him are especially sad to note the passing of David Charlesworth. David was a talented surgeon, a leader of physicians, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was full of life, a man of grace, and a good friend to many.”

Peter Delfausse (Psychiatry ’71-74): “Retired after almost 50 years in Concord, N.H., where I did mostly public sector work in the state hospital and mental health centers in the area. Now spending time in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Florida, volunteering and singing in choirs and choruses, or hitting a tennis ball on a regular basis.”

Michael Wagner (Internal Medicine ’86-90): “Leaving role as chief physician executive at Tufts Medicine to become president and CEO of Care New England (CNE). CNE comprises Women and Infants, Kent Hospital, Butler Hospital, and Integra ACO.” Congratulations on this new job!

Sarah Pletcher (General Surgery ’05-08) wrote in that she is “the system vice president and executive medical director, strategic innovation, at Houston Methodist.” On her LinkedIn page, she says, “I spend most of my professional energy working on ways to make healthcare smarter—bringing patients better/more convenient/more comfortable/more safe care, while at the same time helping the care teams get the support and tools they need to provide highest quality care, efficiently.” Houston Methodist was recognized for this great work in Newsweek as one of the World’s Best Smart Hospitals.

Rajeev Fernando (Infectious Diseases ’09-10) wrote: “I did my ID