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'Dr. O' retires - for real - after four decades of dedication to the medical center

"A consummate patient's advocate." "My hero." "The kindest doctor you could imagine."

This is how colleagues describe Harry Oberhelman, a general surgeon who retired in October after 42 years at the medical center. Their words of praise leave no doubt that this is an extraordinary man who has made invaluable contributions to Stanford and the field of general surgery.

"Dr. O," as he's affectionately known, has outlasted five department chairs, 10 deans and several hospital administrations. He served as chief of general surgery from 1964 to 1990, chief of gastrointestinal surgery from 1990 to 1997, and acting chief of general surgery from 1997 to 2000. Along the way, he has received several awards for teaching and patient care.

"He's been the constant in general surgery," said Tom Krummel, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery. "He's absolutely devoted to his patients and residents. He makes Marcus Welby look like an amateur."

Born in 1923 in Chicago, Oberhelman grew up assuming he'd follow in the footsteps of his father, a general surgeon whom he remembers as "compassionate and loved by his patients." He received his MD in 1947 from the University of Chicago, where he remained for his surgical residency. He specialized in gastrointestinal surgery and was trained under Lester Dragstedt, a pioneer in treating pancreatic and gastric disease.

After coming to Stanford in 1960 as associate professor of surgery, Oberhelman continued developing his expertise in GI conditions including peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatic and colon cancers. He was the first physician to report on islet cell tumors of the duodenum and their association with peptic ulcers, and he pioneered a treatment using local excision instead of removing the entire stomach.

In surgery, Oberhelman's stamina and determination emerged. "He was aggressive in the OR. He took the toughest cases, the ones where other doctors had given up," said James Mark, emeritus professor of cardiothoracic surgery and a friend and colleague of Oberhelman's since 1965.

Colleagues describe Oberhelman as a kind, modest man who smiles often. "I tend to look on the bright side of things," he says.

Dr. O's dedication to patients is legendary. Staff physician Ward Trueblood, Oberhelman's chief resident in 1970, notes that he always visited his patients at the hospital twice a day, even on weekends and holidays. And, "his clinics often ran late because he loved talking with patients."

One example of his concern for patients: Twenty years ago, he devised an ingenious low-tech solution after several post-operative patients complained of discomfort from the suture holding their drainage tube. Oberhelman instead used pink tape and a skin-protective barrier to secure the tube. The method worked so well that it became commonly used by Oberhelman's residents.

Oberhelman was equally dedicated to the 160 residents he trained in his 30 years as director of Stanford's general surgery residency program. "He was a mentor and a father figure to the residents," says Trueblood. "Many of them would tell you, 'Harry is my hero.'"

Oberhelman says working with residents was among the most rewarding aspects of his work. He made a point to treat them respectfully. "I always listened to my residents, because you could always learn something from them," he says.

The warm regard of Dr. O's colleagues and residents was evident at a mid-October retirement reception held in the Bing Dining Room. Dozens of well-wishers shared their recollections at the standing-room-only event. Laughter filled the room when Mark Vierra, a former chief resident now in Monterey, sang a tribute called "The Dr. O Blues."

Though Oberhelman officially retired in 1990, he continued working full-time, even through various health problems. The most dramatic occurred in 1980 when he suffered a heart attack during rounds. Norm Shumway, professor emeritus of cardiovascular surgery, performed an emergency cardiac bypass. In typical fashion, Oberhelman called his assistant from the ICU, asking her to bring him patient charts so he could get some work done.

Now that Dr. O is truly retired, he plans to travel to Europe with his wife, Betty, and spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Meanwhile, he's tackling several home-improvement projects.

Still, he plans to come to his office regularly - to attend rounds, observe occasional surgeries and catch up on correspondence. "He'll always have a place here," Trueblood says. "He's earned it."