Tuesday, July 9, 2024
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I am Dr. Salil Gupta, a retired neonatologist who was so fortunate to be at University of Iowa Iowa city, IA for 6+ years during my residency in pediatrics, from 1984 to 87 and three additional years as a neonatology fellow in from 1987 to 1990. I was able to work and be in constant company of so many great teachers and professional colleagues but one of the finest teacher was Dr Bell known as “Bill”. My most memorable time was the morning report where residents on previous night call will go over and briefly describe admission in the NICU or pediatric floor. Dr. Bill was always there with a smiley face, having his coffee and asking very probing questions, as a teaching point to help residents understand what they did and what they should have done. It was not only that, he was able to quote every possible reference to support his decision-making or his style of practicing medicine. I remember I sat there every morning in complete awe, his personality, his humble and kind nature to talk to every resident who had the courage to ask him questions and explain everything in so much detail. Later on, I realize the depth of his knowledge and passion for learning, and it had deep impact on me throughout my professional career and made me a lot more curious and learn a lot of the critical thinking skills that are needed in a complex field like healthcare.
Interestingly, Dr Gail McGuinness was the first person at University of Iowa faculty that I came to know in 1983, after the residency match was announced, and there were two unmatched position in pediatric department. I had a phone call discussion with her, followed by in person meeting with her, followed by an offer that I will spend six weeks pro bono, with NICU and peds inpatient unit before I can be given residency. I owe Dr. Gail McGuinness everything that I have been able to do in this country for last 40 years for opening the door for me to enter residency program where I learned everything about how to take care of newborns and pediatric patients, but the most important part that I learned was how to evaluate literature and how to do critical thinking about making decision on patient care. Dr. Bell and Dr. Gail McGuinness were instrumental in my professional and personal development that lasted throughout my professional life in improving outcome of babies and moms in community hospital settings. I left Iowa City in 1990 but had a chance to reconnect with Dr. McGuinness in 2021 when my son had moved to Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC. I was able to visit Dr. Bell and Dr. McGuinness at their home in Chapel Hill, NC and spend couple of hours with them. I had a chance to talk to Dr. Bell, saw his huge book library and had a great time. I am deeply saddened that Dr. Bell passed away in 2023 and I just found that out yesterday when I was visiting one of my colleagues, Dr. Jeffery Segar, who at Iowa City for 35+ years and now at the medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Bell passed away on June 28 which is my date of birth!! I feel strongly connected to both Dr. Bill and Dr. McGuinness and I will always remember Dr. Bell with this additional connection that he passed away on 28 June. God bless his soul and let us continue to celebrate his life.
