Tinsley R. Harrison, M.D.“Wisdom takes time to accumulate, and it’s worth something.” Dr. George Karam referenced John James in a day that captured the past, present, and future of the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency program. Dr. Tinsley R. Harrison was the second dean of what is now UAB Heersink School of Medicine, and he utilized his role to foster a culture of compassionate and enthusiastic students and physicians.
His values and the contributions of many amazing physicians after him create a legacy that informs and sets our program apart today. For the last ten years, the Legacy Dinner has been an impactful experience for the senior residents by offering them a chance to reflect on the teachings of Dr. Harrison.
To commemorate Dr. Harrison’s legacy, several incredible alumni dedicated five sculptures to the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program on July 27, 2023. Each sculpture is 100 pounds of bronze. The first sculpture, The Priesthood of Medicine, references one of Dr. Harrison’s speeches, which was subsequently published in Annals of Internal Medicine. In it, he discusses the three roots of the medical tree - the scientific root, the art of medicine, and the priesthood of medicine where the physician and his or her humanistic elements are the treatment. The Contagious Fire embodies enthusiasm and passion for mentors, which is meant to be not only shared with others but used to elevate them. Thinking stems not from the intellect required to learn medicine, but from a quote attributed to Dr. Harrison, “I am not here to teach you facts. If I wanted you to know facts, I would tell you to read my book. I am here to teach you how to think.” E=hH2 is an adaptation of Einstein’s theory of relativity for teaching medicine found in chapter 10 of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine at the time. It stands for Education = head x Heart squared. It emphasizes the exponential impact of the teacher’s heart and willingness to teach over his or her intellect. Moral and Mental Discipline reflects on the emotional and intellectual bonds of teachers and learners. It is dedicated to all who have trained at UAB and includes the phrase “Excellence Without Ego” coined by Dr. Lisa Willett to epitomize the spirit of our residents.
Tinsley Harrison Legacy Wall sculptures, from L to R: Priesthood of Medicine, Contagious Fire, Thinking, E=hH2, & Moral and Mental Discipline
Every summer, the rising PGY-3 class meets for a Legacy Dinner. During this event, residents have time to reflect on their training thus far, and to think about the kind of leaders and teachers they hope to be as they lead the residency program in the coming year. As interns, so much of our habits were shaped by the leadership of our upper level residents. The Legacy Dinner reminds our residents of Dr. Harrison’s teachings, the unique honor of being a physician, and the special responsibility of teaching the next generation of physicians. Dr. Harrison’s legacy is now commemorated in beautiful sculptures in our residency offices, and it continues to live on in each resident who trains at UAB.
We express our sincere thanks to the generous donors that made this possible. It is an honor to walk our halls in such an amazing legacy.
- Chief Medical Residents: Drs. Brian Westbrook, Julie England, Christina Cheng, and Mark Cromer