Scott M. Nelson – 50th Reunion Essay

Scott M. Nelson

1525 Lodge Court

Boulder, CO 80303-8112

smnelson69@gmail.com

720-470-8790

Spouse(s): Jean Nelson (1983)

Child(ren): Patrick (1986) and Susan (1988)

Education: Yale 1969 BA, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 1974 MD

National Service: Indian Health Service (US Public Health Service) 1979–83

Career: Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat): Indian Health Service 1979–83; ENT group Portland, ME 1983–84; NE Ohio ENT group 1985–2009; retired ’09–present

Avocations: Hiking, skiing, travel, gardening, bridge

College: Silliman

I had been delaying this piece because of some health uncertainties. My outlook has cleared lately, so here goes.

I now have a confirmed diagnosis of multiple myeloma, but I feel great and am just starting treatment. The good news is that things are early and that the median survival is now 10 years. The bad news is the uncertainty of it all. Suffice it to say, if I appear at our 50th reunion, things will be going well.

What am I looking forward to in the next year? Well, primarily good health and a normal life. We are pretty active as a family, with a lot of outdoor activities and a lot of get-togethers with friends. I hope this all continues.

I have experienced many personal changes since “growing up,” despite what one learns in psychology about the lack of adult changes. I’m definitely more attuned to feelings and friendships than when younger. There is less feeling of need to save the world, and more satisfaction in doing small, but real, things that help the world. They don’t have to be, and cannot be, perfect. I think retirement has a big effect on one’s worldview, because work can no longer be the focus of one’s life. Something else has to be.

Life lessons:

• You must take the broad view of everything.
• All knowledge is somehow useful.
• It’s good to learn how to manage assets, real estate, and other things of value.
• Medicine really is an art, not a science.
• The importance of women. Nowadays most institutions have gone co-ed, Yale included, and for good reason.
• The wisdom of humility. Many truths can only be seen if one leaves one’s ego behind. This is something Yale grads in particular need to learn.
• The importance of brevity. This essay has been pared back.

Battle won: Kept a medical group together, despite the actions of one of the partners. This gave my home community something positive to keep.

The Yale experience? That was an amazing period of time to live through, and I don’t think that people who lived in other times will understand it. Well, I’m glad we experienced it. What did it prepare us for? A major change in our form of government, something that never happened. Did it prepare us for anything that actually did happen? I think it made us resilient in the election of Donald Trump, and for whatever changes this leads to.

Yale identity: I have not lived amongst other Yalies and have had very limited interactions with Yale alumni clubs in Cleveland and Denver. However, I have become a devoted attender of five-year at-Yale reunions because I think people are more open at reunions, regardless of the school involved. The Yale degree is a nice credential to hold, but it has been wisest to hide it. Yale is not my identity.