Today I thought I would take a break from the usual path and provide you with perspective about a different topic. An important transition is taking place. A transition that is close to home. Today Frank Maddux replaces Ray Hakim as the Chief Medical Officer for Fresenius Medical Care North America. Close to home in that for the past two years I have worked in the FMC Medical Office.
Ray
I first met Ray almost eight years ago. Our nephrology practice owned and operated several dialysis facilities and, as the winds of change blew, we made the tough decision to transition out of the facility ownership position, which the practice had held for many years. We spent quite a bit of time performing our due diligence. We were not only looking for the right company, but more importantly the right people. The people we wanted to work with for many years to come. We found that combination in Renal Care Group. One of the greatest strengths of that organization from my perspective was the physician leadership the company enjoyed. That leadership began with Ray.
Over the past 15 years, Ray has held the position of Chief Medical Officer, first at RCG and most recently with FMC. His mantra, doing well by doing good, is one of those rare phrases whose simplicity belies its accuracy. Over the past few years he has conducted a personal crusade against the “Access of Evil”…the hemodialysis catheter. Under his leadership, the company’s mortality rate has steadily declined, an accomplishment that is remarkable within such a large enterprise, regardless of the size of the ship’s rudder. Last week I was at a dinner Frank had organized in Ray’s honor. One of the dinner guests summed up Ray in a single word: Teacher.
Frank
I have known Frank much longer than Ray. I had the pleasure of practicing nephrology with Frank for ten years. When we first met in the mid 90’s, the occasion was my visit to Southside Virginia as I was contemplating joining his practice. During one of my visits, I distinctly recall having dinner with Frank and his wife Dugan, also an accomplished nephrologist, at their home in Virginia. One of the reasons that visit is tattooed on my brain was the trip we made into the Maddux basement that evening. Frank and Dugan had decided to fill a void in Southside Virginia when they arrived in the early 90’s—they started an Internet Service Provider organization in their basement back when most of us had not even heard of the World Wide Web.
As president of our dual-specialty practice, Frank successfully navigated a multitude of competing interests. During that time he also conceptualized and created the foundations of the electronic health record we know today as Acumen. Remarkably he did so while practicing nephrology and leading our fifteen-physician medical practice. Many of us wanted Frank to be President for life, but Dugan’s vote made it clear ten years was enough. The diversity of his past experiences (President of our medical practice, President of a local University’s Board of Trustees, RPA Board member, regional Bank Board member, successful entrepreneur and, most recently, Chief Medical Information Officer for FMC) and the successes he has enjoyed within these organizations have prepared Frank well for this next phase of his career.
Transition
Change is often difficult no matter where we encounter it. I am sure both Ray and Frank are experiencing the challenges of change as are many of the people close to them. The mutual respect that Frank and Ray have for one another will ensure this transition is as smooth as possible. I would like to wish each of them all the best as they embark upon their respective future endeavors.
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