IN MEMORIAM
William Andrew Dale 1920-1990 William Andrew Dale was born March 13, 1920, in Colttmbia, Tenn. Andrew to some, Andy to many, was one of a long line of Dales who first became Tennesseans in 1797. His father died when Andy was 12 but not before Andy had learned from him the virtues of outdoor life and sports. Dr. Dale was : ~ucated at Columbia Military Academy and Darlington Preparatory School before entering Davidson College in North Carolina from which he graduated in 1941. He then returned to Tennessee for his medical training at Vanderbilt University, which he completed in 1944. He had acquired an interest in surgery in medical school. At that time the Chief of Surgery at Vanderbilt was Barney Broolcs, who was a friend of John J. Morton, Chief of Surgery at the University of Rochester. Dr. Dale joined a group of several Vanderbilt graduates who interned in Surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital, most subsequently completed the residency. Dr. Dale completed the Chief Residency in 1950, which was interrupted by a 2-year tour of duty in the Air Force from 1946 to 1948. He then joined the full-time academic surgical staff at the University of Rochester from 1950 to "958 with an appointment in both Surgery and Physiology. In the laboratory he was interested in the physiologic effects of atelectasis. He demonstrated that the addition of dead space to a rebreathing tube produced sufficient hyperventilation to prevent atelectasis. The D-S tube was used extensively for postoperative patients in the 1960s. Dr. Dale was also interested in arterial grafts. He was one of the first to demonstrate ~he superiority of autogenous veins over homologous arteries and prosthetic grafts in a canine model. In 1959 he reported the successful use of autogenous venous "shunt" grafts in 31 patients, which was among the earliest clinical series. In 1958 he once again returned to Tennessee to pursue the private practice of surgery with clinical and laboratory privileges at Vanderbilt University. His laboratory interests included the use of grafts in the venous system. After demonstrating the feasibility of using
William Andrew Dale autogenous veins to replace veins in the canine model, he performed and reported a significant series of successful crossover vein grafts for lilac vein occlusion in patients. Dr. Dale had frequently discussed the importance of the research laboratory in the development of new surgical knowledge and techniques. He felt that the surgeon should take his problems to the laboratory. Only after finding the answer and proving feasibility of new technology would he include it in his clinical management of patients. His contributions for the treatment of atelectasis and arterial and venous occlusions and other vascular problems demonstrate that he lived the way he spoke. He was the author or coauthor of more than 165 articles and was the editor of three books on vascular surgery. Dr. Dale was a superior surgeon and teacher. 561
562 In Memoriam
Whatever he did during the preoperative, operative, or postoperative care of his patients was done in an intelligent, well thought out, and exacting fashion. His actions were consistent and varied only when common sense dictated. In those respects he taught by example but in addition reinforced the teaching with a description of what and why he was doing what he did. He made it very clear that he expected it done that way in the future. He did recognize that errors could be made. His delightful essay "3Surgeon's Primer of Errors," which he delivered at the Earle B. Mahoney Memorial Lecture in 1989 and which appeared in the Jovms~ or VAscvLa~ S~r,tEP,Y just 5 months before his death, explored the cause of errors made by himself and others and also tells us how they can be avoided. It is also an example of honest reporting in clinical papers, which he adhered to and expected of others. Dr. Dale was intimately involved with the Society for Vascular Surgery and the North American Chapter of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. He was a regular contributor to the scientific programs of the Societies. He also was President of the Society for Vascular Surgery in 1974 and President of the North American Chapter of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery in 1980. He was therefore a member of the Joint Council of the two Societies during the years 1972 to 1984. The activities of the Joint Council, during his leadership, were associated with the accreditation of general vascular surgical training programs by the Residency Review Committee of Surgery in 1984 and the certification of general vascular surgery surgeons by the American Board of Surgery in 1982. In addition, the JOURNALOFVASCULARSUV,~EV,Y, which is owned by the Societies, was first published in 1984. Dr. Dale was particularly concerned about the training of residents in vascular surgery and outlined the characteristics of what an excellent program should be in 'Wascular Surgical Training-A Panel Discussion," published in the journal Surgery in 1973. His own program was established in 1969 at the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., with Dr. William H. Edwards. More than 15 vascular surgeons and 60 general surgeons have benefited at first hand from the integrity, humility, and unyielding insistence on high standards and accountability demonstrated by Dr. Dale. Dr. Dale's love of the outdoors, which he acquired from his father, persisted throughout his
Journal of VASCULAR SURGERY
life. He enjoyed fishing and developed an interest in photography as he grew older. He liked to walk and particularly enjoyed hiking in the Alps of Switzerland with his wife and friends. He played baseball as a young man but later became an avid golfer. He was both a student of golf and an excellent competitor. He used running for conditioning but was most proud of trophies he won as a runner in senior races. Dr. Dale retired in 1985 when a chronic back problem prevented him from standing comfortably at the operating room table. This prevented him from continuing to be % get 'em well doctor" a title given to Andy by a peer and one he proudly accepted. His retirement continued to be very busy with traveling, writing, and an increased interest in photography. After considerable instruction and experience, he had a local showing of his best pictures, which were highly acclaimed. He had written a book for children'about one of the long line of long haired Dachshunds he had owned. He recently completed a book about his ancestors entitled My Tennesseans. He was in the midst of writing a book of biographical sketchs of contemporary vascular surgeons entitled, Band of Brothers. His devoted wife, Corinne, was his constant companion and mother of his four daughters, Mary Dale Smith, Corinne Howell Dale, II, Virginia House Dale, and Catherine Dale McCain. There were 12 grandchildren. The last few months of Andy's life were primarily devoted to his family. He and Corinne visited them when he could. The daughters and their families spent much time at their parents home. As he became weaker from leukemia, he spent more time with the children in the heated pool where ambulation and breathing were easier. Throughout his life b~ had believed in taking time to "smell the roses." He had traveled widely to see everything and had made frequent side trips to experience unusual activities. Just weeks before his death he and Corinne made a voyage up the Mississippi River and also visited one of the newer state parks in Kentucky because he had never done that. He chose to remain at home during his last few days, and finally in the early morning of Sept. 22, 1990, he died in the arms of his wife, Corinne. Dr. Dale was an outstanding individual, a true pioneer of vascular surgery, and a great friend, and we will all miss him.
James A. DeWeese, ME)
William Andrew Dale 1920-1990 William Andrew Dale was born March 13, 1920, in Colttmbia, Tenn. Andrew to some, Andy to many, was one of a long line of Dales who first became Tennesseans in 1797. His father died when Andy was 12 but not before Andy had learned from him the virtues of outdoor life and sports. Dr. Dale was : ~ucated at Columbia Military Academy and Darlington Preparatory School before entering Davidson College in North Carolina from which he graduated in 1941. He then returned to Tennessee for his medical training at Vanderbilt University, which he completed in 1944. He had acquired an interest in surgery in medical school. At that time the Chief of Surgery at Vanderbilt was Barney Broolcs, who was a friend of John J. Morton, Chief of Surgery at the University of Rochester. Dr. Dale joined a group of several Vanderbilt graduates who interned in Surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital, most subsequently completed the residency. Dr. Dale completed the Chief Residency in 1950, which was interrupted by a 2-year tour of duty in the Air Force from 1946 to 1948. He then joined the full-time academic surgical staff at the University of Rochester from 1950 to "958 with an appointment in both Surgery and Physiology. In the laboratory he was interested in the physiologic effects of atelectasis. He demonstrated that the addition of dead space to a rebreathing tube produced sufficient hyperventilation to prevent atelectasis. The D-S tube was used extensively for postoperative patients in the 1960s. Dr. Dale was also interested in arterial grafts. He was one of the first to demonstrate ~he superiority of autogenous veins over homologous arteries and prosthetic grafts in a canine model. In 1959 he reported the successful use of autogenous venous "shunt" grafts in 31 patients, which was among the earliest clinical series. In 1958 he once again returned to Tennessee to pursue the private practice of surgery with clinical and laboratory privileges at Vanderbilt University. His laboratory interests included the use of grafts in the venous system. After demonstrating the feasibility of using
William Andrew Dale autogenous veins to replace veins in the canine model, he performed and reported a significant series of successful crossover vein grafts for lilac vein occlusion in patients. Dr. Dale had frequently discussed the importance of the research laboratory in the development of new surgical knowledge and techniques. He felt that the surgeon should take his problems to the laboratory. Only after finding the answer and proving feasibility of new technology would he include it in his clinical management of patients. His contributions for the treatment of atelectasis and arterial and venous occlusions and other vascular problems demonstrate that he lived the way he spoke. He was the author or coauthor of more than 165 articles and was the editor of three books on vascular surgery. Dr. Dale was a superior surgeon and teacher. 561
562 In Memoriam
Whatever he did during the preoperative, operative, or postoperative care of his patients was done in an intelligent, well thought out, and exacting fashion. His actions were consistent and varied only when common sense dictated. In those respects he taught by example but in addition reinforced the teaching with a description of what and why he was doing what he did. He made it very clear that he expected it done that way in the future. He did recognize that errors could be made. His delightful essay "3Surgeon's Primer of Errors," which he delivered at the Earle B. Mahoney Memorial Lecture in 1989 and which appeared in the Jovms~ or VAscvLa~ S~r,tEP,Y just 5 months before his death, explored the cause of errors made by himself and others and also tells us how they can be avoided. It is also an example of honest reporting in clinical papers, which he adhered to and expected of others. Dr. Dale was intimately involved with the Society for Vascular Surgery and the North American Chapter of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. He was a regular contributor to the scientific programs of the Societies. He also was President of the Society for Vascular Surgery in 1974 and President of the North American Chapter of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery in 1980. He was therefore a member of the Joint Council of the two Societies during the years 1972 to 1984. The activities of the Joint Council, during his leadership, were associated with the accreditation of general vascular surgical training programs by the Residency Review Committee of Surgery in 1984 and the certification of general vascular surgery surgeons by the American Board of Surgery in 1982. In addition, the JOURNALOFVASCULARSUV,~EV,Y, which is owned by the Societies, was first published in 1984. Dr. Dale was particularly concerned about the training of residents in vascular surgery and outlined the characteristics of what an excellent program should be in 'Wascular Surgical Training-A Panel Discussion," published in the journal Surgery in 1973. His own program was established in 1969 at the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., with Dr. William H. Edwards. More than 15 vascular surgeons and 60 general surgeons have benefited at first hand from the integrity, humility, and unyielding insistence on high standards and accountability demonstrated by Dr. Dale. Dr. Dale's love of the outdoors, which he acquired from his father, persisted throughout his
Journal of VASCULAR SURGERY
life. He enjoyed fishing and developed an interest in photography as he grew older. He liked to walk and particularly enjoyed hiking in the Alps of Switzerland with his wife and friends. He played baseball as a young man but later became an avid golfer. He was both a student of golf and an excellent competitor. He used running for conditioning but was most proud of trophies he won as a runner in senior races. Dr. Dale retired in 1985 when a chronic back problem prevented him from standing comfortably at the operating room table. This prevented him from continuing to be % get 'em well doctor" a title given to Andy by a peer and one he proudly accepted. His retirement continued to be very busy with traveling, writing, and an increased interest in photography. After considerable instruction and experience, he had a local showing of his best pictures, which were highly acclaimed. He had written a book for children'about one of the long line of long haired Dachshunds he had owned. He recently completed a book about his ancestors entitled My Tennesseans. He was in the midst of writing a book of biographical sketchs of contemporary vascular surgeons entitled, Band of Brothers. His devoted wife, Corinne, was his constant companion and mother of his four daughters, Mary Dale Smith, Corinne Howell Dale, II, Virginia House Dale, and Catherine Dale McCain. There were 12 grandchildren. The last few months of Andy's life were primarily devoted to his family. He and Corinne visited them when he could. The daughters and their families spent much time at their parents home. As he became weaker from leukemia, he spent more time with the children in the heated pool where ambulation and breathing were easier. Throughout his life b~ had believed in taking time to "smell the roses." He had traveled widely to see everything and had made frequent side trips to experience unusual activities. Just weeks before his death he and Corinne made a voyage up the Mississippi River and also visited one of the newer state parks in Kentucky because he had never done that. He chose to remain at home during his last few days, and finally in the early morning of Sept. 22, 1990, he died in the arms of his wife, Corinne. Dr. Dale was an outstanding individual, a true pioneer of vascular surgery, and a great friend, and we will all miss him.
James A. DeWeese, ME)
