James Eric Hammarsten – 50th Reunion Essay

James Eric Hammarsten

Date of Death: 15-Jul-2016

College: Timothy Dwight

(Tom Kimball submitted this remembrance to the January/February 2017 Class Notes.)

Jim was my classmate in medical school as well as at Yale. He had the mind of the consummate internist from the beginning. He translated Russian medical journal articles as an avocation. Jim was smart, witty, and a good person with whom to discuss any topic.

From his (lightly edited) obituary in the Tulsa newspaper: Jim was a loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather; an accomplished and beloved doctor who helped advanced the study of medicine; and a friend to everyone he met. Jim will be missed by his wife of 43 years, Beth, daughter Britt, and sons Carl and Eric. Jim attended grade school in both Grey Eagle, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. While in school, he was the class president, played basketball, and was an avid member of the 4-H club.

He graduated from Yale with a BA in Russian Language and Literature. While at Yale, in Timothy Dwight College, he carried the tuba in the marching band and campaigned for a co-ed campus. Jim put himself through the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine by translating Russian medical texts into English. As part of his education he was an exchange student in Portugal, Mexico, the United Kingdom (Oxford), Sweden, and East Germany. As part of his time in East Germany, he traveled to Russia for six weeks, during which time he grew his iconic beard that was with him for the next 50 years.

Throughout 43 years of practicing, teaching, and studying medicine in five countries, Jim lived his philosophy of medicine: heartfelt bedside manner, evidence-based medicine, and devoting the time to know the whole person were three equal parts of serving and treating his patients. He began his medical career with his internship and residency at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he finished as chief resident. Jim continued his education throughout his career, obtaining specialties in primary care, geriatrics, and tuberculosis. Jim practiced medicine in the fields of private practice, public health, government service, health insurance, medical education, and administration/leadership, and as an expert medical consultant and hospitalist.

“Some of his appointments included the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia; the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Tulsa City-County Health Department; the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma; the University of Minnesota; the University of Oklahoma; Mayo Medical School; and volunteer work with Physician with Helping Hands and Physician with Volunteers in Mission.

One of Jim’s earliest jobs was as a construction supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where he supervised a team of six at the age of 18. Jim got this job because of his abilities in advanced mathematics and in working with a diverse group of people. This combination of intellect and ability to talk with anyone defined Jim’s passions, pursuits, and interactions throughout his life. Jim never met anyone he could not engage passionately about their jobs, hobbies, and views. He loved to read, but even more than reading he loved learning. He especially loved learning about computers, and in the early ’80s Jim followed his love of computers and the Apple brand and opened his own computer store in Rochester. Jim prided himself on being macaronic, a skill that he developed as a result of his ability to read and speak multiple languages and to pick up new languages very quickly. Jim’s favorite pastime was spending time with his family—a hobby he excelled at because of his desire to devote himself 100 percent to whatever activity they chose. His view was to have fun, and that was what his family always had when he was around. Jim spent his whole life improving and enriching the lives of everyone he met.