Alan S. Berkeley, MD – 50th Reunion Essay

Alan S. Berkeley, MD

11 Cooper Road

Scarsdale, NY 10583

914-262-2760

motu47@gmail.com

Spouse(s): Elisabeth Ehrich Berkeley (1999 – )

Child(ren): Sara (1986); Shannon (1990); Benjamin (1990); Lisa (1987); Ellen (1990); Rachel (1992)

Education: New York Medical College, MD (1973); Intern, GW University Hospital (1974); Resident and Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale-New Haven Hospital (1979)

Career: Assistant and Associate Professor of Ob/Gyn, New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center (1979 – 95); Professor of Ob/Gyn, NYU School of Medicine (1995 – )

Avocations: Golf, Travel

College: Silliman

I realize that not much has changed: I am still writing essays at the 11th hour. As I look back at my life and career over the nearly half century since graduation, I will allow myself several observations:

1. My brain is still 22 years old, even if the rest of me is not. Not that I can do anything about it, but it would be nice if my body stayed 22 also.

2. Being happily married is really good, but sometimes you have to try it more than once to get it right.

3. Children are more important than anything else is, and when they have problems, nothing makes you feel worse. Moreover, what you do to try to solve their problems does not always help or work.

4. I have worked for a total of 39 years for two academic institutions; one prior boss told me never to develop institutional loyalty, and for the most part, he was correct.

5. My patients and practice are a great source of professional and personal satisfaction, but as I get near the end of my career, it is becoming increasingly true that the grateful patients do not overcome the anger and anguish generated from dealing with the hateful patients.

6. I hate winter!

7. I hate almost all vegetables.

8. I love red meat (despite one heart attack). I have to trust the Lipitor to keep my cholesterol low.

9. I know it is a stupid game, but I love golf. And you can get better at it as you get older—there aren’t many things you can say that about.

10. I know I have to stop accumulating frequent flyer miles without using them—that cannot end well.

11. Most of the really important information in life is contained in the New York Post.

12. You are OK until you are not.

What role has Yale played in all this? Being educated there certainly helped my career and could have helped my career even more if only I had taken my undergraduate courses more seriously, particularly in the first two years. I have tried to give something back to Yale, but I would be remiss if I did not express disappointment at the approval and/or toleration on campus for groups that interfere with freedom of expression when they disagree with the speaker (not unique to Yale but I expect better from Yale).

I have been very fortunate in life: great parents and family, wonderful education and successful career. I can only hope that the remaining years of my life are equally good to me.