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Grateful surgeons support future Holy Cross doctors
By Laura Freeman '96
The scientific landscape has changed dramatically in the short time since orthopaedic surgeons Douglas Moran ’76, Steve Fox ’78, Sean O’Connor ’78 and Jeffrey Wiley ’89 set their sights on medical school. The advent of the genome project has revolutionized scientists’ understanding of the human body; new technologies enable scientists to analyze quickly complex data; and collaborations among chemists, biologists and physicists have given rise to entirely new fields of inquiry. Medicine, in particular, is changing at an unprecedented pace as researchers concoct new treatments that would have been impossible just a decade ago.
The practice of orthopaedics, for instance, has evolved from a generalized practice into what is now a highly specialized field; many doctors train in a “subspecialty” and focus their expertise on a particular segment of the practice—from sports medicine to total joint surgery to rheumatology or fracture surgery. The introduction of innovative technology has given rise to new procedures such as arthroscopic surgery, which is far more accurate and less invasive than traditional procedures, and enables patients to regain mobility in a matter of days rather than weeks.
Despite the changes they’ve seen over the years, O’Connor, Moran, Fox and Wiley say that a few things have remained constant: the high caliber of medical students and doctors that Holy Cross produces and the compassionate approach these individuals take toward patient care. To help continue this tradition—and to prepare the next generation of Holy Cross students to keep pace with rapid advances in scientific innovation—each of the surgeons is making a substantial donation as part of a joint gift to help build the College’s new integrated science complex. By combining their gifts, the surgeons hope to have the greatest possible impact on the College’s plans to build first-rate classroom and laboratory facilities to meet the demands of cutting-edge science.
Changing focus
College-level instruction in the natural and physical sciences is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and technical at institutions across the country. Biology curricula, for example, focus heavily on molecular and quantitative aspects, and many medical schools are strongly recommending that students take courses in biochemistry and gain a solid competence in biostatistics, says associate professor of psychology and premedical program advisor, Andrew Futterman.
Faculty research is becoming more technical as well, requiring increasingly sophisticated laboratory space and computer equipment to support it. In response to this trend, many of Holy Cross’ peer institutions in the New England area have completed, or are in the midst of, complete overhauls to their science complexes.
“These folks are making it possible to build a space where faculty can get together with undergraduates to produce original research,” says Futterman, referring to the surgeons’ gift. “It takes a very high-end student to do the kind of projects these faculty members are conducting, and it’s crucial to have a science complex that permits them to do their finest work.”
On medicine and mensches
Moran, who remembers his own interactions with faculty and advisors very clearly, says that the rigors of the Holy Cross program, in combination with the sense of camaraderie that existed among the students, gave him a foundation that served him well in medical school and beyond.
“It wasn’t until I got to medical school that I realized the whole spirit of the Holy Cross premed program was really unique,” he says. “There were no horror stories like the ones you hear about at other schools, with tales of super-competitive classmates or unintelligible teaching assistants. Holy Cross’ program was remarkably nurturing, but it also had an uncompromising insistence on excellence and achievement. It recognized that its students would be competing with the best in the country.”
O’Connor had his heart set on practicing medicine since the third grade, and his former professors remember him as a true standout in the sciences. But, he says, his grounding in other subjects—particularly the Shakespeare courses taught by Ed Callahan—were equally as valuable to him throughout his career.
“I think medical schools are looking for someone who not only knows the science, but who can actually write and communicate well, too,” he says. “As a doctor, you need to be able to talk to patients and relate to them, and that’s when being a well-rounded person is a huge asset.”
When they built their practice together in Concord, N.H., O’Connor and Moran sought out fellow Holy Cross graduates to join their group because of the ingrained sense of values that pervades their approach to patient care, ethical conduct, and relationships with colleagues and friends.
“The College prepares its students to become extraordinary physicians because of its commitment to educating the whole person and caring for others,” Moran says.
“We liked to turn out doctors who were mensches,” agrees Mike McGrath, the premed advisor when the four surgeons went through Holy Cross. Despite the impressive numbers of Holy Cross alumni who go on to become successful physicians, McGrath made it clear to his students that medical school was not the way to go if they were seeking wealth or prestige:
“I’d tell people: ‘You’ve got to do it because you like doing what doctors do.’”
Wiley, who sampled a career in business before deciding his true calling was medicine, says that advice is still ringing true for him today.
“It’s so gratifying to see people who could barely go about their daily activities undergo a hip or knee replacement and suddenly get back to being very functional,” Wiley says. “It’s amazing to see what a difference it makes for them and their families.”
Their end of the bargain
Above all, the four surgeons say their gift is motivated largely by gratitude to Holy Cross and its faculty for the rigorous education they received. Especially grateful to Holy Cross for the financial support the College gave him throughout his four years, Fox credits his organic chemistry professor, Frank Vellaccio, and McGrath for much of his success.
“Mike would tell it like it was, and if you weren’t working hard enough, he’d kick you in the tail,” Fox recalls.
Moran remembers a time when he confided in McGrath his concerns that, because he didn’t achieve instant academic success, he wouldn’t be allowed to continue in the premed program.
“He told me that I needed to step up my efforts if I was going to succeed,” Moran recalls, “but he also said the program was there to help me and that Holy Cross was not a place that throws students into medical school unprepared.
“He said the College would hold up its end of the bargain if I held up mine,” Moran continues. “His pep talk was remarkably effective, because my grades improved considerably after that.”
The surgeons refer to their gift as a way to help Holy Cross hold up its end of the bargain for the next generation of students—and to help the College remain competitive with peer institutions.
“If we combine Holy Cross’ commitment to educating the entire person with facilities and a faculty that are second to none,” Moran says, “then we will continue to be a magnet for young students who are second to none.”
Reprinted from the Fall 2007 edition of the Holy Cross Magazine.