ANSPA Past President (1993-94) and one of our founding members Tom Lemley died peacefully at home on Nov ember 22nd, 2008. Tom was speaker of the House of Delegates for the AAPA from 2000-2002, and a long-time delegate and House Officer (1995-2002). Tom had battled through serious illness for many years now, yet remained active in state and national societies. I feel fortunate to have worked with Tom for the past 10 years in neurosurgery.
Tom received his MPAS from University of Nebraska, and often joked that he was the only PA with a masters degree in Interventional Neuroradiology – that is until interventional neuroradiology became cool! He was recruited here to Penn State Hershey Medical Center to work with Dr. John Barr, and held a joint appointment in both radiology and neurosurgery. In 2002, he and I left together to join a private neurosurgery practice in Harrisburg, PA. Tom was given the responsibility to set up a “neuroscience clinic without walls,” and under his leadership and vision the practice grew. Unfortunately, health issues cut short his time at Pennsylvania Neurosurgery & Neuroscience Institute, and after a brief hiatus, he returned first to teaching then, as he regained his strength, to clinical practice back at Penn State, where he remained employed in the Department of Hematology and Oncology until his passing.
While Tom is often remembered for his leadership and administrative gifts, he brought a level of compassion that is rare in our chosen field of medical specialty. Tom had this amazing ability to patiently sit and listen to those who came to him in the clinic. He told me once, “If you listen to your patients, they will tell you what is wrong with them.” That is one of those things I have never forgotten. When you talked to Tom, he would look you straight in the eyes and crinkle his forehead just a little, as if studying every word. Just like in his leadership skills, attentive listening was his hallmark. He was often lauded for his ability to resolve disputes within the AAPA and ANSPA, and most will tell you that his ability to “hear” both sides and then be able to articulate a compromise made him one of the most beloved and effective leaders in the PA community.
A fitting legacy to Tom would be for all of to learn to sit and listen attentively to our patients. I have found it true that patients will tell you exactly what is wrong if you take the time to listen. Try to take a little extra time with your patient, try to look them straight in the eye, and maybe crinkle your forehead just a little. Thanks, dear friend.
David Black PA-C
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