Purposeful

Every decade is different, each having its own identity and share of impactful, even life-altering events.

It is easy to idealize a specific era; to think of a slower pace or simpler days. But it is not all make-believe or fantasy. The reason so many of those images and memories resonate is they were real. Times were different. And so were the way we viewed life.

The family doctor was one who held such a place of high regard. The general practitioner who would face everything from removing pebbles stuck in a young boy’s ear to delivering babies; from dealing with the common cold to cancer. He was stopped on the street, in the grocery store and outside the door after church.

Between 1943 and 1948 in the height of World War II and post-war society, “The Saturday Evening Post” dispatched famed artist Norman Rockwell on eight trips around the United States to gather ideas for a series of paintings that would capture the essence of America. At least one of the ensuing pieces of art featured Rockwell’s own family doctor.

Growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, a young David Dale shared those views. And it grew into this purpose in life.

“I developed an interest in medicine in high school because I so admired the family doctor,” David said. Pursuing that mindset, to see if it was a passion or a passing fancy, David worked as a hospital technician during college. “Everything followed from there,” he said.

The college? Carson-Newman. A chemistry major, David learned under the tutelage of Carl T. Bahner, a nationally-recognized legend in the sciences at Mossy Creek.

And he excelled, in the classroom and out.

David was a member of the National Biological Honor Society and the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. Not only a member of the German Club, he was president and served as president of the Science Honor Fraternity as well. Oh, and he played football three of his four years and ran track one year. His senior year he was named to the Little All-American Academic team.

Some memories are vivid. They stand the test of time. We often cannot remember why we walked into the kitchen but recall something from years, decades, before as if it just occurred.

David remembers exactly where he was standing – near the pool – when a campus representative tracked him down and notified him a telegram had arrived at the post office.

“It was my acceptance to Harvard Medical School,” David said. “I remember it like it was yesterday.”

Everything certainly was following from there.

After medical school, Dr. Dale completed his residency at Massachusetts General in Boston. By the late 1960s, the height of the Vietnam War, he did the equivalent of a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. From there, he crisscrossed America a couple of times.

“I came west for one year as medical chief resident of Washington University Hospital (in Seattle),” Dr. Dale said. “After that, I returned to the NIH.”

Although he only had been on the West Coast for one year, his impact was obvious. After returning to the D.C. area, he was contacted by officials back in the other Washington. They wanted him to return. He did and became director of the student teaching program.

And that is where he has remained. Through the years he has served as professor of medicine at the University of Washington and dean of the University of Washington Medical School. Just like his time at Mossy Creek, Dr. Dale was not just a member of organizations, his peers placed him in leadership roles. Dr. Dale was president of American College of Physicians (ACP) and held the same role for the national medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha, for six years. He also served a stint as president of the American Clinical and Climatological Association in 2016.

The ACP has presented Dr. Dale with the Laureate Award, which goes to those who have rendered distinguished service to their chapters and community and have upheld the high ideals and professional standards. Six years later, the ACP bestowed upon him the title of Master.

Let’s put that in perspective. 

ACP Bylaws state that MACPs shall be Fellows who have been selected because of “integrity, impact in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine.” MACPs must be highly accomplished persons demonstrating impact in practice, leadership, health policy, or in medical research. Evidence of their achievements can come from many types of endeavors, such as renown within their field and/or ACP chapter, positions of honor, research, education, health care initiatives, volunteerism, administrative positions, care of patients, and service to their community. (Source: acponline.org).

The list is long. 

Honored for outstanding work in science as related to medicine – ACP; named an Honorary Fellow at both the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and the Academy of Medicine in Singapore; placed on the “Best Doctors in America” list; Editor-in-Chief of “Scientific American Medicine” and editor of the “Journal of General Internal Medicine.” 

He has lectured and presented his research findings all over the world. The “Journal of Oncology Practice” states, among oncologists, Dr. Dale is “perhaps best known for his work on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 9G-CSF for the treatment of cyclic and congenital neutropenia.” 

Wow. That is impressive without even knowing what it means. 

We will explain, not because we know, but because we researched it.

Neutrophils are a specific type of white blood cell. All white blood cells, regardless of type, help our bodies fight infections. Neutrophils are important in fighting certain kinds of infections, especially ones caused by bacteria. Neutropenia means the body does not have enough neutrophils. The white blood cell count, low or high, are important indicators in detecting and treating cancer.

Dr. Dale’s research is renowned. But with all of the honors and accolades, the accomplishments and success, the opportunities to present to some of the smartest doctors in the world about subjects that affect us all – either specifically or in our circles of impact, Dr. Dale still applies the Carson-Newman mission of educated citizen and worldwide servant-leader in his pursuit.

Commitment to patients and their families dealing with a terrible disease. And working with others always willing to strive harder, reach further.

“Those would be my two points,” Dr. Dale said. “Commitment to people and to learning. Most of the rest will follow.” 

A purposeful path to follow indeed.