I.

   He was in his final year of surgery residency when we met. Young Marco was bight, capable, and the apple of his father, Dr. Joe Bonta's eye. 

   It was the mid '80s. Joe was still a surgeon at Riverside. I remember his warm smile and something else.

   Highly regarded by his patients and colleagues "Dr. Joe" had a trait not uncommon among surgeons then. He sometimes lost his temper in the OR. 

   "Some of the nurses are scared of Joe," the CNO reported. "Marco has started copying daddy."

    What could inspire Marco to begin his practice as a model of competence and compassion ?

   "Big trauma is what triggers big behavior change," famed cancer surgeon Dr. Bernie Siegel had told me on our Life Choices T.V. show." 

II.

   Young Marco entered my office polite and wary. Why is Erie calling me in? he surely wondered.

   "Marco, you're looking at a fine future," I observed.

   "Thank you," he smiled.

   "Following in dad's footsteps?" I asked.

   "Sure."

   "Joe's a good man with one trait we hope you won't copy."

    His eyes narrowed.

    "He's temperamental," I continued. "Mimicking his OR outbursts risks your graduation."

    Instead of calling my bluff his head sank. 

    "Gee. I thought 'temper' was typical with surgeons," he murmured. 

   "Drs. Jim Blackford, Bill Knerr and others are always respectful to OR staff. We want that to be 'typical' here.'"

   "I'll try," he said.

   I was doubtful. But I hoped the kindness you see in his eyes would triumph.  

   Fortunately, Marco experienced our talk as traumatic. The abruptness of his behavior alteration was startling and joyful. Over four decades he became one of Riverside's most compassionate surgeons specializing in, guess what, trauma! 

   Awhile back he sent a note: "Thank you for changing my life, Erie." 

   Clearly, he changed it, not me. All I did was affirm what he had not known. The best surgeons practice respect and apologize if OR tension triggers an atypical outburst.  

   By treating his work as sacred, Dr. Marco Bonta's not only saved lives but improved those of thousands. 

   Just days ago, at 67, he died.

Blessings upon him. 

-Erie Chapman 

Picture: OhioHealth