VOLUME 29, ISSUE 2
The Honorable John M. Zerwas, MD
Former ASA & TSA President
State Representative
Texas House of Representatives, Dist. 28
Richmond, TX
On the Shoulders of Giants: Legends of Texas Anesthesiology-Betty Pearce Stephenson, MD
Recently I had the opportunity to deliver the 2018 Rovenstine Lecture at the ASA Annual Meeting titled “Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders”. I highlighted the life and career of Dr. Betty Stephenson as a great lesson of the importance of leadership and mentoring. When I think about the theme of this series of articles, truly Dr. Stephenson is one of those Texas giants whom we owe such a great debt of gratitude for her service to the practice of medicine and specifically our specialty of anesthesiology.
Betty Pearce Stephenson, M.D., was born and raised in Abilene, Texas. All who met her knew her roots within a matter of minutes. She was Texan to the core and proud of it! After graduating with a B.A. from Hardin-Simmons University in her hometown, she went on to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Colorado in biochemistry. In pursuit of her lifelong dream of becoming a physician, she attended the Baylor University College of Medicine. It was there that she met and married her husband of 55 years, Charles T. Stephenson, M.D., who became a highly respected orthopedic surgeon. Betty graduated from Baylor in 1953 and completed her residency in anesthesiology at the Baylor Affiliated Hospitals in Houston from 1955-57. The majority of her private clinical practice was in Houston at Methodist Hospital and Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. She retired from clinical practice in 1996.
In addition to her outstanding clinical career, part of Betty’s legacy is her profound commitment to organized medicine. There are few organizations that have not recognized her for the tremendous vision and leadership she exhibited. She has served as the president of many organizations: Texas Gulf Coast Anesthesia Society (1976), Texas Society of Anesthesiologists (1983), Harris County Medical Society (1986), American Society of Anesthesiologists (1990-91), and the Texas Medical Association (1994). She was also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the TSA, TMA and ASA. There are many lessons to be gleaned from this ASA legend — far more than I can share in this brief tribute to her life. Let me relate a few that have had a profound impact on my career.
“Be a Physician First and Foremost” – Betty reminded us of this often, both inside and outside the operating room suite. My greatest recollection of this lesson, though, is from the many legislative trips we would make to Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas. She always felt that for anesthesiologists to be respected, and effective, we must be an integral part of the “house of medicine.” In that spirit, she lead by example through her very active membership in the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Association.
“When Asked to Lead…Do It!” – Certainly Dr. Stephenson lived this principle. I recall a time when my own plate was pretty full and the opportunity to serve in a leadership role presented itself. After a very short conversation, Betty basically explained to me that “If you’re asked to serve in a leadership role, do it because you may not be asked again!”
“Be a Mentor” – Though there are many more lessons to be shared from Dr. Stephenson, this is perhaps the one in which she took the greatest pride and personal interest. I have personally characterized this in the past as being “Betty’s 5th Child.” There are many of “Betty’s 5th Children” among us today — men and women, young and old. She has influenced and inspired us not in a charismatic sense, but in the way that only a revered loved one could impact lives. She shared her life and her passion with all who came in contact with her in a way that was genuine and lifelong.
Past ASA president and fellow Texan James F. Arens, M.D., characterized Betty this way: “As a politician, she may be even more effective ‘behind the scene’ as on the scene. As a driver of a ‘souped up’ blue Corvette, she also was effective at schmoozing Texas patrolmen. Betty was as comfortable being a role model for young women physicians as she was sitting around a Texas campfire being one of the boys. But her most precious moments are those she and ‘Steve’ share on their ranch in the Hill Country.” (ASA NEWSLETTER, September 2001)
Dr. Stephenson left this life with honor and dignity on September 17, 2006 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. But her impact to the practice of anesthesiology continues to be felt today through her legacy of mentorship and leadership.
