Honoring “The Dean” — Chapman’s contributions highlighted at gala

Honoring “The Dean” — Chapman’s contributions highlighted at gala

Dr. John E. Chapman’s 25 years as dean of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine were recognized and honored by a two-day series of programs last week, culminating in a Friday night black-tie gala at the Renaissance Hotel attended by more than 1,000 colleagues, students, and friends.

When, as the clock crept toward the 12th hour, it came time for Chapman to speak, he stood at the podium with his wife Judy Jean – also an honoree at the dinner – by his side, and was clearly overwhelmed by all the honors, accolades, and gifts that had come before.

“I have never been speechless in my life,” he told the hushed gathering, pausing a beat, before adding, “And I am not speechless now.” Another pause for the laughter to subside, then: “But I am overwhelmed.

“I didn’t deserve this, but I didn’t deserve to be bald, either.”

Chapman had announced in the fall of 1999 that he was planning to move from his position as Dean to become associate vice chancellor for Medical Alumni Affairs. Dr. Steven G. Gabbe assumed the position of Dean in March.

If it were medically possible to suffer from adulation poisoning, the Chapmans would have been in grave danger after the events of last Thursday and Friday.

On Thursday, a reception for faculty, staff, students, and friends was held under a tent between Light Hall and the VA Medical Center. That night, students from the School of Medicine presented a music and dance show in tribute to Chapman, with another reception following the program.

Friday’s events began at noon as Dr. Ruth Kirschstein, acting director of the National Institutes of Health, delivered the fourth annual John E. Chapman Lecture to an overflow crowd in Light Hall (see related story, page 5), followed by the Friday night black-tie event billed as “A Grand Evening” in honor of the Chapmans.

Toasts and tributes

After the Nashville Pipe and Drum, a Scottish musical ensemble, led fete-goers into the banquet room, Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs, began the many toasts, remarks, and tributes, noting that Chapman’s father was a dentist and his mother was a teacher, raising the possibility that his dedication to health care and education was genetic. Jacobson also read a list of “John Chapman by the numbers,” including:

• 25: the number of years he served as dean.

• 3,317: the number of graduates whose medical degrees he conferred.

• 32: the acres of clinical, research, and education space built at VUMC during his period as dean.

• 789: the growth in number of faculty positions during his period as dean.

A brief summary of some of the others who offered toasts and tributes:

• “I integrated the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in 1966,” recalled Dr. Levi N. Watkins, now associate dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Watkins remembered Chapman’s advice to him in his fourth year of school to “go to the Mecca” and try for a residency at Hopkins, which led to his career there. “I thank you tonight for my whole career,” Watkins said.

• “His gift to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is one which will go down in history as being great,” said Dr. John E. Maupin, president of Meharry Medical College, adding, “We at Meharry thank you for what you have done. John Chapman is a special friend and I wish you well.”

• Dr. J.D. Rosdeutscher, the president of the class of ‘91, spoke for the generations of medical students helped by Chapman. “There’s no way we can ever thank you enough for all that you did for us.”

• Another former student, Dr. Laura Meyers of the class of ‘93, said, “You put the world at our feet and gave us the tools to go out and conquer it. For that we are eternally grateful.”

• Chancellor E. Gordon Gee cited a survey of medical students nationwide that showed that Vanderbilt medical students have the highest degree of satisfaction with their experience in medical school, and said, “The number one satisfaction rating is in no small part because of John Chapman.”

• Dr. Roscoe R. “Ike” Robinson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs emeritus, received a standing ovation as he left the podium, after movingly speaking of the 18 years he and Chapman worked side by side. “There are few people here tonight who have worked with you more closely or longer, or are more aware of your contributions to Vanderbilt,” he said. “I would like to think ours was a great run. Vanderbilt and her medical school are fortunate that you one day chose to pass our way.”

Other speakers included Chancellor Emeritus Joe B. Wyatt; Dr. Edward J. Stemmler, former dean of the University of Pennsyl-vania school of medicine; Edward G. Nelson, chair of the Medical Center Board; and Dr. John S. Sergent, chief medical officer of the Vanderbilt Medical Group and VMS class of ‘66.

And present in spirit was Sir Winston Churchill, the historical favorite of Chapman who was quoted so often by those paying tribute that it almost seemed as though Churchill himself were in the hall honoring the Dean.

Gifts and honors

Following a video salute to the Chapmans, Jacobson began what he called “a cavalcade of gifts, great and small, concrete and symbolic,” in honor of the Chapmans.

Professor Jan Lindsten and Anna Jarresand-Ohrstrom of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, with which Chapman has forged close institutional ties with Vanderbilt, presented the medal-loving former dean with a medal from the Institute, as well as a rare hand-colored Linneaus etching.

Jacobson presented the couple with seven leather-bound volumes of letters from students, former students, faculty, former faculty, colleagues, and friends. “They have one thing in common,” commented Jacobson. “They all end with ‘Thank you.’”

Jacobson also presented Chapman with a jeweler’s copy of the badge and collar of the Order of the Seraphim, Sweden’s highest honor, and one of only four such jeweler’s copies in the world and the only one in the U.S.

Judy Jean Chapman was given a hand-crafted Italian jewelry armoire.

Dr. Deborah C. German, senior associate dean of Medical Education, announced the commissioning of a bust of Chapman by renowned Nashville-based artist Alan LeQuire, while Dr. Gerald S. Gotterer, senior associate dean of Faculty and Academic Administrative Affairs, unveiled a portrait of Chapman by painter Ann Street.

Monroe J. Carell Jr., CEO of Nashville-based Central Parking and member of the Medical Center Board of Trust, announced two full scholarships in Chapman’s name for physicians in training. “John Chapman personifies the values of medical education,” Carell said. “He is the Dean of Deans of American medicine.”

And it was fitting that on a stage decorated with a replica of the 1925 Courtyard entrance to the Medical School, Martha Ingram, president of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust, announced that the courtyard leading to that historic entrance would be relandscaped and designated the Judy Jean and John E. Chapman Quadrangle.

“Looking forward”

By the time Chapman stepped to the podium, the weight of all the gifts, presentations, accolades, remembrances, and tributes could have been overwhelming, but the light tone set by the former Dean didn’t mask the honor he and Judy Jean felt.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would own an Order of the Seraphim” he said, shaking his head as though he still couldn’t believe it.

Recalling the words spoken to him by Winston Churchill as the former Prime Minister of England judged a speech contest in which the young John Chapman participated, he said, “Remember that a speech, to be immortal in its impact, must not be eternal in its length.”

He read a lighthearted verse called “Been There, Done That,” before returning to a serious tone. “Judy Jean and I are profoundly grateful,” he said to the hushed crowd. “I look forward to new opportunities, new challenges, and new circumstances. Thanks, profound thanks, and to all a good night.”