The Saint

Abstract

Joseph W. St Geme Jr, MD, died in my emergency department on Oct 11, 1986. Our relationship began when I served as one of his residents when he was the Chief of Pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA. It ended when I pronounced him dead. In the intervening years, I entered emergency medicine, and he became the Dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He achieved recognition and status reserved for very few, with a list of awards, titles, and affiliations that is truly magnificent. While most will describe his greatness by recounting this list, a fortunate few have been touched by, and recall instead, another kind of greatness that had nothing to do with his rank, title, or achievements.