The consummate mentor “She is a legacy; she is awesome,” third-year student Lashon Sturgis said of MCG’s Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, who she describes as “intense but so calm you kind of forget how intense she is.” Like many, Sturgis had heard of Fincher before they actually met and, unlike many, the reality lived up to the reputation. As a first-year student, Sturgis first met Fincher while serving on the Curriculum Committee (see related story on Page 38). Fincher made it clear from day one that students weren’t there because the bylaws required it – they were there because their input was invaluable. “She would stop dead in the middle of a meeting and ask us for our opinion on a subject related to students,” Sturgis said. Likewise, Sturgis said, when Fincher speaks, others listen. She has the ability to command a room “in a good way” – whether it’s an MCG Curriculum Committee meeting or a national gathering. No one person can be given all the credit for shaping an institution, but Sturgis and others concur that Fincher’s
intensity and indefatigable interest in students and medical education no doubt helped MCG secure a reputation in medical education circles that’s as solid as her own. When Dr. Lee Ann Merchen journeyed across the country from Washington state four years ago, she had no idea what to expect from the woman she met for the first time during her job interview. The young internist was relocating to Augusta with husband, Dr. Todd David Merchen, a transplant surgeon, and two small children, Patrick and Georgia. “Medicine is a big world,” Merchen said. “You go through medical school and training and think you are doing all the right things and you come out and you actually need a torch in the cave.” Fincher lit one when she asked that first day about Merchen’s plans and assured her that she would be there if she ever needed guidance or another perspective. Fincher was intuitive on many fronts. Even though she and husband Dr. Michael E. Fincher don’t have children, she seemed to understand the additional complexities – and joy – that a 2- and 6-year-old brought to Merchen’s extremely busy professional life. In those first relationship steps, Fincher let the younger physician frame many of the conversations. “There is an earnestness and goodness about Rhee you almost sense early on, when you just meet her,” Merchen said. “She speaks very exactly, choosing her words in such a meaningful way that when she is talking, you know it’s true. In a world of fluffy clichés and not well-spoken people, I love that honesty about her.” No doubt they have commonality. Merchen suspected early she wanted to be an educator. Her favorite part of training was trailing students, residents and faculty discussing how best to treat a patient. Later, Merchen found she also loved to impart knowledge, and Fincher’s straight talk helped her carve out a roadmap to help her do it well. The mentor torch also would ignite a dear friendship. While the kids are at Sunday school, the two walk the Merchens’ furry dog Honey Bear and talk about life. “We talk about what girlfriends talk about. Sometimes we talk about work, sometimes we talk about career and transition and men,” Merchen said with a broad smile that acknowledges another thing the women share is great respect and love for their men. The story of Drs. Mike and Rhee Fincher started in 1976, when they met while standing in line for the baccalaureate service the day before they graduated from Emory University School of Medicine.
Drs. Ruth-Marie Fincher (left) and Lee Ann Merchen
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Spring 12