The Bulletin of The Medical Alumni Association of Bassett Medical Center Summer 2020 THE CUPOLACooperstown, New York Vol. XXIV No. 2 A Tribute to Theodore (Ted) Peters, Jr., Ph.D., (1922 – 2020) Bassett’s Selfless Biochemist Extraordinaire Theodore (Ted) Peters, Jr., Ph.D., Soft spoken, cheerful, and always humble, Ted Peters “retired” arrived in Cooperstown with his family in 1988 but did not leave his office as research emeritus until in 1955, recruited to The Mary Imogene about 2010. He was incredibly helpful to thousands of individuals Bassett Hospital from Harvard Medical through his years of research, clinical and administrative roles School by research physician, Joe at Bassett and in the wider Cooperstown community. Ferrebee, M.D., his former Harvard In a recent letter to John Davis, M.D., William (Buck) Greenough, colleague. As Peters recalled in an M.D., research fellow assigned to Bassett by the U.S. Public interview years later, “I wondered Research Service (1959-61) and currently professor of Medicine what kind of a wilderness this is at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, put it this way: “In we’re going to?” July of 1959, I arrived in Cooperstown with my wife, Jane and Hired as research biochemist, three young children. Ted Peters made time and met with me Peters soon teamed up with weekly to teach me the mysteries of protein chemistry… He associate pathologist Charles Ashley, was always available to me and helped enormously as I carried M.D., to use the institution’s new out experiments seeking a protein precursor in hemoglobin electron microscope for enhancing synthesis. I learned a great deal from him not only about Theodore (Ted) Peters, his groundbreaking studies of the proteins but also about how, when busy, to make time for young Jr., Ph.D. structure and function of serum researchers, sharing both his technical knowledge, wisdom, albumin, research which would lead to national and and teaching skills to me. His example has guided me through international acclaim. He also soon assumed directorship my research and academic career, and I have tried to follow his of Bassett’s clinical laboratories, and taught cohorts of example in all my interactions and efforts to guide and assist Bassett physicians through the years the understanding and my students over the years since my Bassett fellowship.” underpinning of biochemistry for the practice of medicine. Greenough’s comments about Ted Peters have been echoed For more background, readers will recall Peters’ brief obituary by untold numbers of Bassett colleagues, trainees, and friends in the Spring 2020 issue of The Cupola. Also see his obituary throughout the years. Here are some of just a few of those in The Daily Star edition of March 24, 2020, which showcases accolades: his multifaceted life and accomplishments in the community Emery Herman, Jr., M.D.: “I always would have to say that aside from Bassett. In addition, his research career was Ted Peters was a person to go to with medical problems, reviewed at length in 2002 by The American Association for personal problems, tennis problems, whatever it was. He was Clinical Chemistry (AACC). Peters served a term as the just a gem of this place who I think people recognized quietly, Association’s president, and in 1991 he received the AACC but not with any fanfare, and that was just what he wanted. “ “Award for Outstanding Contributions Through Service to Peters to page 7 the Profession of Clinical Chemistry.” Message from the President of the Medical Alumni Board of Directors By now we are all ready for 2020 to be over, but mind! Elsewhere you can read about recent match sadly there is no apparent end in sight for the results, as well as the continuing success of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s hoping all are coping Columbia-Bassett Medical School. with the restrictions and staying safe and well. Plans are in the works for a mostly virtual meeting Please enjoy this issue of The Cupola . The team of the Alumni Board this fall. We’ll keep you informed that puts these together is little short of amazing, about the meeting and what’s going on at the with dedication and skill that really shows up in hospital. It’s a different world. Please let us hear the final result. from you. We want to know what our alumni are This issue is dedicated to the memory of Ted doing and that you are all staying well. I Peters. Many of you knew him, and I’m sure you’ll Kenneth Wilkins, Wash your hands, wear a mask, and remember that he was a true gentleman, with M.D., President, respect for all others…not to mention his brilliant Board of Directors keep your distance! The Cupola is the newsletter of the Medical Alumni Association of Bassett Tommy Ibrahim, M.D., M.H.A., Medical Center. The Association was founded Named President of the Bassett Healthcare Network to provide support and Douglas Hastings, chairman of the Bassett degree in Health Administration from Seton Hall recommendations to Healthcare Network Board of Directors, University. He received a graduate certificate in Bassett’s Medical Education Department; to assist in announced that Tommy Ibrahim, M.D., M.H.A., Organizational Behavior and Executive Coaching recruiting medical students, has been appointed to be the next president and from the University of Texas, Dallas, and was house staff and attending chief executive officer (CEO) of Bassett nominated to Modern Healthcare as one of the staff; and to provide financial support to develop Healthcare Network. Ibrahim is expected to 50 Most Influential Clinical Leaders of 2019. and enhance medical begin his tenure in this role in mid to late July. He is a practicing hospitalist and boarded in education at Bassett. Ibrahim has held leadership positions within internal medicine and hospital medicine. Ibrahim The Medical Alumni the health care industry for the past is a fellow of the American College of Association of Bassett Medical Center 14 years, most recently serving as Healthcare Executives, fellow in Officers executive vice president and chief Hospital Medicine, and received President physician executive for Integris Health the Certified Physician Executive Kenneth W. Wilkins, Jr., M.D. System, a “Top 25” health care system accreditation from the American New Bern, N.C. in the United States according to U.S. Association of Physician Leadership. President-Elect News & World Report , and the largest "I am humbled to become part of James Murray, D.O. Rochester, N.Y. not-for-profit and state-owned health the Bassett family and to follow in the Executive Vice President care system in Oklahoma. footsteps of the visionary leaders that Anush Patel, M.D. "We are extremely pleased to have shaped the rich and historic Cooperstown, N.Y. announce the hiring of Dr. Ibrahim as legacy of this wonderful and leading Board of Directors the next president and CEO of health system," said Ibrahim. Madiha Alvi, M.B., B.S. Bassett Healthcare Network," said Tommy Ibrahim, "Grounded in innovation and the Jacqueline A. Bello, M.D. Hastings. "He brings to us the experi - M.D., M.H.A. advancement of scientific research Wendy Bergman, M.D. ence of being the top physician and evidence-based practice, John L. Chamberlain, M.D. leader of a large, highly regarded health system, Bassett has repeatedly demonstrated what Steven S.T. Ching, M.D. along with an innovative and it means to be a national leader in health care, James T. Dalton, M.D. John S. Davis, M.D. forward-looking drive to embrace the future of through generations of contributions and Merideth S. Davis, M.D. health care and to advance Bassett’s mission of medical firsts and as the cornerstone of Douglas M. DeLong, M.D. improving the health of our patients and the patient care in Central New York." John Dier, M.D. well-being of our communities. I am optimistic "It’s truly an honor to be selected by this Nathaniel Doro, D.O. about that future and look forward to working incredibly committed board of directors," Michael Foltzer, M.D. closely with Dr. Ibrahim to achieve it. continued Ibrahim. "I look forward to locking Erin Gillaspie, M.D. "I want to thank Jane Forbes Clark, chair of arms with all of our board members, leaders, Peter R. Gray, M.D. the Bassett Medical Center Board of Trustees, physicians, clinicians, and all of our 5,000 Keonna D. Johnson, M.D. and the other members of the search committee caregivers across the network to build upon the Alan J. Kozak, M.D Jing Luan, M.D. for their hard work on this search," continued successes of the past in creating a strong and Erin McKay, D.O. Hastings. prosperous future in which Bassett’s mission, Bruce L. McClennan, M.D. In his most recent role, held since 2017, vision, and values resonate throughout the David E. Newman, M.D. Ibrahim was the executive leader of Integris communities we are privileged to serve." Stephanie S. Oceguera, M.D. Health System’s physician and medical staff Ibrahim’s accomplishments include improving Sarah M. Ricketts, M.D. leaders. He served as the physician executive rural health care at Mercy Health Network Eric Rubin, M.D. in charge of leading the strategic direction for through the successful implementation of G. Theodore Ruckert IV, M.D. clinical services throughout the 19-hospital telehealth programs for rural Iowa network Timothy Whitaker, M.D. health system of owned and joint-venture assets, hospitals and improving access to residents in Rachel Zehr, M.D. including all clinical operations, the physician remote communities.