By Dr. David H. Walker
The Carmage and Martha Walls Distinguished University Chair in Tropical Diseases Professor and Chairman, Department of Pathology
Executive Director, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease

Dr. Roberto Logroño

A new event for the UTMB professional community was inaugurated on April 12, 2012, the Roberto Logroño MD Lectureship for Professionalism in Medicine. Established to remind all of the significance of individuals who live the principles of professionalism daily, the lectureship is a memorial to the late Dr. Logroño, the Director of the Division of Cytopathology at UTMB until his sudden unexpected death in 2006. Remembered as a kind, considerate, honest gentleman, and a scholarly academic physician, he willingly gave more than his share of the best that he could offer to his colleagues, the institution, and patients.

Nominations will be solicited annually to honor a faculty or staff person who exhibits the qualities of professionalism: motivated primarily by service to those in need of care, and much less by personal gain, and a high level of technical competence and proficiency to provide excellent medical care.

Dr. Susan McCammon, recipient of the Roberto Logroño lectureship and Dr. David Walker.

The initial lectureship was awarded to Susan McCammon, M.D. Her letters of nomination strongly emphasized her particular qualities of professionalism, a sincere dedication to the well-being of her patients, and an advocate for those patients who are unable to navigate the health care system due to lack of finances and insurance. She expresses compassion, empathy, and attention to detail in the care of her patients including commitment to effective palliative care. In this regard, Dr. McCammon completed her practice pathway to board eligibility in Hospital and Palliative Care Medicine and is a volunteer at Hospice Care Team. Dr. McCammon, who is Director of the Residency Program in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, cleverly utilized the administrative forms that are completed routinely to evaluate residents in her engaging lecture to recall the attributes of professionalism and how we must continually strive to incorporate them into our lives.

A request for nominations for next year’s lectureship will be announced later this year. Thinking of the highest qualities of professionalism and the persons who exemplify them and describing these qualities in letters of nomination will remind us of our calling and the memory of Dr. Logroño as well as honoring a professional of merit at UTMB for specific aspects of professionalism.