Matthew Walker, Sr, MD, FACS: A Progeny's Perspective Charlotte Rose Walker, MD Nashville, Tennessee
It seems to be a fitting tribute for me, his biological and intellectual progeny, to include an article addressing surgical immunology* in this memorial issue to my father and "Chief," Matthew Walker, Sr, MD, in the May 1979 Journal of the National Medical Association. I am led to this belief because Matthew Walker, MD, made the major concerns of his career the training of surgeons and the teaching of health science students. Many of us practicing surgery and its subspecialties today in global locations around the world take pardonable pride in having been the intellectual progeny of this Christian gentleman of ideas and ideals, this surgical scholar who taught us to pursue proper patient care and to initiate and maintain research interests and effort. This compelling personality and competent executive demonstrated *This issue, p. 435. Charlotte Rose Walker, MD, is Assistant Professor of Surgery, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Charlotte Rose Walker, Department of Surgery, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208.
leadership as he advanced surgical training and left a well trained and loyally devoted (to him and to each other) group of surgical trainees. It is with sincere and deep thanks to my father and Chief, and to his confreres and colleagues from whom my surgical training was received, that the review* is submitted; with the hope and anticipation that, as we move toward the conquest of cancer, we will continue to practice medicine with empathy, efficiency, and effectiveness consonant with their principles, following their example. As we recall his demands, encouragement, principles, and teaching, we do realize anew that Matthew Walker, MD, left to us a legacy of continous and consistent work for over four decades in several roles, assisting our medical center in its administrative, clinical, educational, and scientific growth and development. As declared by the Old Testament psalmist, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. " ' Matthew Walker, MD, died on July 15, 1978, at his beloved Meharry, in
Nashville, Tennessee, 71 years after having begun his life's journey in a community in Louisiana called Waterproof. He had come a long way. One of his most cherished honors was his unanimous election to the presidency of the National Medical Association. He began the President's Inaugural Address at the 59th annual convention of the National Medical Association at Howard University, Washington, DC, on August 13, 1954 with these words: "To be unanimously elected president of such a great organization as the National Medical Association is a signal honor and a tribute of the highest order. As I consider the exciting challenge that this office proposes, and as I consider what an illustrious group of men has preceded me, it is with the deepest humility and with the most genuine pleasure that I accept this presidency.' '2
My family and I are appreciative of this tribute of a memorial issue to my father by the NMA and its Journal. Literature Cited 1. Psalms XVI:6, Holy Bible (King James Version) 2. Walker M: President's inaugural address. J NatI Med Assoc 46:312-316, 1954
Matthew Walker, Sr, MD: His Surgical Legacy Charles E. Brown, MD Nashville, Tennessee
When one dedicates himself through actions and deeds to make this world a better place, there are many persons who he can attempt to emulate. Matthew Walker is one of these persons. His numerous attributes are well known, but the "Chief' is best remembered as a surgeon, especially to "his men." Perhaps when reviewing his acRequests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Charles E. Brown, Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208. 508
complishments, it is best to separate them into various categories. He was highly gifted and possessed a brilliant mind. It is not currently possible to turn back in time and appreciate the personal sacrifices and persistent dedication that molded his character; suffice it to say, the template is probably lost. Approximately one half of the black physicians throughout this country received their surgical education under Matthew Walker as Chief of the Department of Surgery at Meharry. His skill in guiding, stimulating, motivating,
and instructing so many who developed love, respect, and friendship throughout the years is a single outstanding feat. His ability to develop a superior training program for black surgeons as early as 1945 in the deep South remains a mystery. Yet, even the Chief needed an abundance of help and cooperation from the surgical world in those days. Without the friendship, association, and undying assistance from his two comtemporary surgical department heads at Vanderbilt University, Dr.
JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, VOL. 71, NO. 5, 1979
It seems to be a fitting tribute for me, his biological and intellectual progeny, to include an article addressing surgical immunology* in this memorial issue to my father and "Chief," Matthew Walker, Sr, MD, in the May 1979 Journal of the National Medical Association. I am led to this belief because Matthew Walker, MD, made the major concerns of his career the training of surgeons and the teaching of health science students. Many of us practicing surgery and its subspecialties today in global locations around the world take pardonable pride in having been the intellectual progeny of this Christian gentleman of ideas and ideals, this surgical scholar who taught us to pursue proper patient care and to initiate and maintain research interests and effort. This compelling personality and competent executive demonstrated *This issue, p. 435. Charlotte Rose Walker, MD, is Assistant Professor of Surgery, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Charlotte Rose Walker, Department of Surgery, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208.
leadership as he advanced surgical training and left a well trained and loyally devoted (to him and to each other) group of surgical trainees. It is with sincere and deep thanks to my father and Chief, and to his confreres and colleagues from whom my surgical training was received, that the review* is submitted; with the hope and anticipation that, as we move toward the conquest of cancer, we will continue to practice medicine with empathy, efficiency, and effectiveness consonant with their principles, following their example. As we recall his demands, encouragement, principles, and teaching, we do realize anew that Matthew Walker, MD, left to us a legacy of continous and consistent work for over four decades in several roles, assisting our medical center in its administrative, clinical, educational, and scientific growth and development. As declared by the Old Testament psalmist, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. " ' Matthew Walker, MD, died on July 15, 1978, at his beloved Meharry, in
Nashville, Tennessee, 71 years after having begun his life's journey in a community in Louisiana called Waterproof. He had come a long way. One of his most cherished honors was his unanimous election to the presidency of the National Medical Association. He began the President's Inaugural Address at the 59th annual convention of the National Medical Association at Howard University, Washington, DC, on August 13, 1954 with these words: "To be unanimously elected president of such a great organization as the National Medical Association is a signal honor and a tribute of the highest order. As I consider the exciting challenge that this office proposes, and as I consider what an illustrious group of men has preceded me, it is with the deepest humility and with the most genuine pleasure that I accept this presidency.' '2
My family and I are appreciative of this tribute of a memorial issue to my father by the NMA and its Journal. Literature Cited 1. Psalms XVI:6, Holy Bible (King James Version) 2. Walker M: President's inaugural address. J NatI Med Assoc 46:312-316, 1954
Matthew Walker, Sr, MD: His Surgical Legacy Charles E. Brown, MD Nashville, Tennessee
When one dedicates himself through actions and deeds to make this world a better place, there are many persons who he can attempt to emulate. Matthew Walker is one of these persons. His numerous attributes are well known, but the "Chief' is best remembered as a surgeon, especially to "his men." Perhaps when reviewing his acRequests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Charles E. Brown, Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208. 508
complishments, it is best to separate them into various categories. He was highly gifted and possessed a brilliant mind. It is not currently possible to turn back in time and appreciate the personal sacrifices and persistent dedication that molded his character; suffice it to say, the template is probably lost. Approximately one half of the black physicians throughout this country received their surgical education under Matthew Walker as Chief of the Department of Surgery at Meharry. His skill in guiding, stimulating, motivating,
and instructing so many who developed love, respect, and friendship throughout the years is a single outstanding feat. His ability to develop a superior training program for black surgeons as early as 1945 in the deep South remains a mystery. Yet, even the Chief needed an abundance of help and cooperation from the surgical world in those days. Without the friendship, association, and undying assistance from his two comtemporary surgical department heads at Vanderbilt University, Dr.
JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, VOL. 71, NO. 5, 1979
