Page 44 - Delaware Medical Journal - March/April 2019
P. 44
Robert G. Altschuler, MD
Erik A. Underhill, MD
The State of Delaware lost one of its great physician leaders with the sudden passing of Robert G. Altschuler on January 12, 2019 at the age of 76. Dr. Altschuler was a second-generation principled, a gifted physician leader, upbeat, and fun to be around.
Bob was born the second of four children in Alexandria, Louisiana on June 27, 1942. His father was serving in a VA Hospital in Pineville, physician father moved the family to Penn Valley on Philadelphia’s Main Line. Bob graduated from Harriton High School, where he excelled in wrestling and rowing, then earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1963.
A well-rounded extrovert, comfortable with people from all walks of life, Bob enrolled at Jefferson Medical College in 1963. He excelled in his studies and made many friendships that lasted a lifetime. At the end of his internship, he married the love of his life, Michelle (Micki) Centrella, at the Hotel du Pont in July 1968. Bob was enlisted in the Berry would be reporting for active duty in September 1968 and then going to Vietnam.
He arrived in Vietnam in December 1968, where
he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as
narrowly escaping death on several occasions, and completing two years of military service with the Bronze Star Medal and other — daughter Alexis.
Bob returned to Philadelphia in September 1970. He welcomed his second child, son Ashley, in November 1971, and completed his Internal Medicine Residency in July 1972. He and Micki moved to Wilmington, Delaware shortly thereafter.
In the summer of 1972, Bob was 30 years old, married with two small children, a Vietnam veteran, knew virtually nobody in Wilmington and didn’t have a job. So what did he do? He borrowed money. From his father-in-law. What could go wrong? He used the money to rent a on North Harrison Street.
When Bob opened his practice in July 1972, he had no nurse, no receptionist... and no patients. He knew no doctors, he was not on
he hustled. He put his great interpersonal skills to work and began making introductions. He worked ER shifts, covered for vacationing
doctors, and did a lot of weekend hospital coverage.
Bob built his practice on the principle that the best patient care arose from a patient’s relationship with an independent doctor who worked for nobody else but the patient. Within several years of coming to Delaware, Bob’s practice was thriving. He and a group of physician colleagues designed and built the Bancroft Parkway Professional Building in Wilmington in 1981.
Dedication to his profession through volunteer leadership positions at the hospitals and the Medical Society of Delaware was a hallmark of Bob’s working life. He lived the credo that if you wanted something changed, you got involved and worked to change it yourself. He served as Chief of the Department of Medicine at St. Francis Hospital and was Vice President and President of the Medical-Dental Staff.
Bob was passionate about protecting the independent practice model and worked tirelessly for more than 30 years volunteering his time with
the Medical Society of Delaware to help create a successful insurance subsidiary (MSDIS) as well as a health insurance contracting subsidiary (MedNet) to help his fellow physicians survive in an age where health insurance companies increasingly dictated patient care. Mark Meister, the erstwhile Executive Director of the Medical Society of Delaware, developed a close working relationship with Bob and described him as a “servant leader who had
Society. At a time when doom and gloom had set in among many physicians, Bob counselled the Board to stay positive and keep focused on the needs of patients and doctors.”
Bob was a dedicated, nurturing father, grandfather, and husband. He
and loved being an important part of their lives. Retirement brought more time for some of the things Bob really enjoyed the most: his grandchildren, carrying his golf bag around the course, world travel, marriage this past summer.
I had the good fortune of practicing medicine with Bob for 11 years. He was a loyal colleague, skillful mentor, and a great friend to my family and me. He was highly regarded among his physician peers and beloved by his patients for 40 years of thoughtful, dedicated care. If the State of Delaware ever creates a Physician Hall of Fame, Robert Gary will miss his leadership and intellect, his friendship, and all the fun he brought to everything he did.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
■ ERIKA.UNDERHILL,MDisaboard-certifiedinternistandDiplomateofthe American Board of Internal Medicine. He practiced with Dr. Altschuler for 11 years.
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Del Med J | March/April 2019 | Vol. 91 | No. 2
