Duke University School of Medicine - Aesculapian Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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Q , A If 125454, 5,14 f-,nfiw ' .Z . , my 4 1,1 , W., yy 4 I A 3 .- f? 'fW ' W fffww v 1 ,1 M3 ,Q7 ,1-2,321-.?.4f', ,Www 'al fag' ,JMLZWQVEQV 'lj Qi, if g,gg,y,,- ' ,gg Q - ,, mf ' 4 Av In Menlorialll RALPH ARNOLD. M.D. By GEORGE BAYLIN. M.D. lt is surprisingly dillicult to write a brief sketch of a person who was unaffected, frank and truth- ful, particularly when the writer knows that the protagonist would have deemed any praise as unnecessary. Ralph Arnold, born in Rochester, New York on December 10, 1910 was a physically rugged youngster possessed of an exceptionally alert mind. These attributes enabled him to excel both as a student and athlete in the public schools and at the University of Rochester. Competitive sports in fact arlorded him the opportunity to pursue his education and also helped him to de- velop the fine sense of fair play and cooperation which so clearly dominated his relationships with people. Moreover, his athletic endeavors en- hanced his innate abilities to react decisively and quickly under pressure. Football left him a permanent legacy-a broken nose. Perhaps the missed diagnosis of the nasal fracture conditioned him for his future speciality. Dr. Arnold studied medicine at the University PAGE

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PAGE 14 RALPH ARNOLD, M.D.

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Lift' ix .vlmrt.' url ix lung: a'.t'pe1'iel1t'e rliflifull. of Buffalo and was elected to the AOA honorary society. During his years of schooling he found it necessary to energetically pursue a strenuous extra-curricular schedule so as to cart a liveli- hood. Thus he was for years an iceman toting lOO lb. cakes of ice to a retinue of regular cus- tomers, and was for a time selling fruit and pro- duce. This type of total experience fathered his humanism and modesty, but also brought him face to face with the stark realities of life. lt is re- markable that he integrated so successfully the many diverse endeavors during his youth, but to know him made it easily understandable. The affiliation with Duke began in 1936 when he accepted a full time interneship on the then infant Student Health service. He brought to the area a vigor and zest which was to win for him the respect and admiration of patient, nurse and staff. Each student was so carefully followed that no true illness was neglected and every non- organic complaint was usually properly handled. Following this year of close association with the student-patient, he put in three years as a house officer in the E.E.N.T. service and was subse- quently certified by the American Board of Otalaryngology and the American Board of Ophthalmology. The war years saw him serve with the Duke unit in England, following which the armed serv- -Al1SC'Ul.APlUS ices dispatched him for duty in Japan. His col- leagues in both theaters of war were high in the praise of his magnificent efforts as a physician, friend and counsellor. He had some tense mo- ments with respect to Army directives and higher brass but was so sincere and dogged in his choice of action that reason usually prevailed. Dr. Arnold returned to Duke in 1946 after a four year stint in the Army. At this time he made a highly significant decision and married Monice. They had four children, one girl and three boys. He played his role of father with eminent success and the Arnold youngsters grew up in an environ- ment of freedom, understanding, discipline, hap- piness and respect. The proudness with which each one called him Daddy bespoke a complete story of the proper child-father relationship. A gifted teacher, Dr. Arnold gave untiringly of himself. Never was he too busy, too lazy, too tired or too important to assist a student, patient, nurse, resident or senior staff colleague. His un- canny ability to unravel a complicated clinical problem made him the ideal consultant and the prompt dispatch with which he made decisions as to modes of treatment placed heavy demands up- on his time. Also, the willingness with which he accepted the responsibility of examining and treat- ing friends, endeared him to the entire hospital family, professional and non-professional. Sonia patiwils, tlmugli C'0Il.S'l'i0llS rlzut rlieir C'0llllfff0lI is perilmzm 1'vr'oi'w' their health simply tlirrmgli their l'UlIft'HflIIl'llI iriili Ihr' g0oclm'.s'.v of 1110 lJlIj'.S'fCflll'l. mon l6 -HIPPOCRATIZS