ROBERT E. KRAVETZ, M.D., Class of 1958

ROBERT E. KRAVETZ, M.D., Class of 1958

Where did the past 50 years go?  They could be summarized in a single sentence:  I have had the good fortune of having had one wife, one house, one practice, raised three successful sons,, three special daughter-in-laws, six wonderful grandchildren and a storehouse of happy memories and accomplishments.   My oldest son, Michael a physician, is medical director of a Rehabilitation Hospital, Jeffrey is a money manager for JP Morgan Chase  private banking clients, and my youngest son, David, turned Nancy’s 50 year old family recipe into a very successful nationally known gourmet business, Fairytale Brownies. 

Following my internal medicine training, I spent two extraordinary years at Yale as a Fellow in Gastroenterology with Howard Spiro, who taught me the art as well as the science of medicine.  This month a book of his aphorisms that I compiled and edited, Medical Humanism will be released through The Yale Program for Humanism in Medicine.  I practiced gastroenterology until I retired on the day of my 65th birthday but continue to take pleasure in many medical activities.  I still maintain an office at the hospital where I direct conferences, practice legal medicine, teach medical humanism to students and residents and pursue my life long interest in the history of medicine

Along the way I have picked up the usual honors for a clinician:  Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Master of The American College of Gastroenterology, a Life Time Achievement in Medicine Award, founded the Phoenix Society of Gastroenterology   and received several teaching recognitions.  I have been honored on two occasions for preserving medical history, written two books on the subject (one other in progress), been Archivist for the American College of Gastroenterology for the past 10 years, written over 80 articles on medical history, actively lecture, consult and exhibit for several history museums,  I had an antique shop that sold medical and apothecary  items and I still deal in them.

I have been blessed with economic and social good fortune living in a vibrant and warm community and believe in giving back to it. Currently I sit on 5 different boards, none of which are medical.  It is refreshing to deal with non-medical people.  I spend my time traveling back and forth between our sunny Phoenix desert home and the high Arizona country (altitude 6250 feet) where I have my mountain retreat. 

My wonderful wife of 50 years, Nancy, and I spend a great deal of time with our family who “all” live within 15 minutes of our home; what greater pleasure can there be than having a close family living in your city?  Nancy and I have traveled quite extensively and continue to do so.  Our favorite city is Paris which we have visited five times. She is an accomplished artist.  When we are at home, I spend my time cooking (she has retired with honors), gardening and propagating plants in my greenhouse.

At the end of the day, not a bad life to look back upon; if I had to it all over again I would again choose medicine that I still believe is a noble profession.  Life continues to be an adventure and everyday provides new opportunities.  L’chaim!!!