But first, a trip down Memory Lane

As last month was Ophthalmology Management’s 25th anniversary issue, I felt a little personal reminiscing was in order. I spent this weekend looking through the OM archives and reviewing every editorial I’d written since taking on the helm of chief medical editor in 2007.

What a ride it has been! When Publisher Doug Parry asked me to succeed the legendary Paul Koch, I was totally intimidated about maintaining the very high quality he brought. But Paul, and Alan Aker before him, had served 5 years each, and I thought maybe I can at least make it 2 or 3 years and then bow out gracefully. I don’t know what happened. Suddenly it’s been 14 years. I was in my 40s when I started; now I’m in my 60s. I started the year the iPhone came out!

During that time, I wrote more than 125 editorials, discussing pretty much anything that was relevant and worth pursuing. Many got good reactions — and great laughs. Occasionally, a few people vehemently disagreed. One column was about one of our own, Rand Paul, running for president. Others covered government intrusion, the rise and plateau of femto cataract surgery, malpractice, private equity, optometry, osteopathy, mission trips, nutrition, getting old and so on.

You read about me becoming a pilot during my tenure and my own personal surgeries. I have enjoyed being provocative and relished the title of “curmudgeon.”

MY GREATEST HITS

My most popular columns at the offices of the AAO dealt with the silly ribbons on our badges at the meetings. An employee laughingly told me the editorial was hanging in their offices, as they had more problems dealing with doctors and their issues about not getting certain ribbons than nearly anything else!

My personal favorites were fairly recent, in June and November of 2019. The first came out of conversations we had in my OR about music best suited for eye surgery. Songs like “My Eyes Adored You” and “Doctor My Eyes,” among others. The second came from a realization that perhaps some other songs should be avoided at all cost! Songs such as “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “The First Cut is the Deepest,” “Cuts Like a Knife,” “I Go Blind” and the favorite “Blinded by the Light”!

UNTIL WE MEET ON THESE PAGES AGAIN

So, with that, I come to the point of all this: my last official column and last official act as chief medical editor of this fine publication. I think it’s way past time to turn it over to someone younger and, well, maybe more energetic. I want to introduce Dr. Lisa Feulner as the new editor. She is quite accomplished, and with both an MD and a PhD is way smarter than I ever pretended to be. I look forward to her leadership here in the future.

I’ve loved my 14 years here. It forced me to stay fresh and current and gave me a platform to say pretty much anything on my mind. I wanted to entertain you, inform you, but, most of all, make you think. And it’s not a complete goodbye. I’ll still be back from time to time when I’m feeling curmudgeonly. Until then. OM

Larry E. Patterson, MD, is an instrument-rated private pilot. He is also the chief medical editor of Ophthalmology Management. On the side, he is the founding partner of Eye Centers of Tennessee. His e-mail is larryp@ecotn.com.