After graduation I left for Gainesville and the University of Florida the next morning.  For the next 3 years I went full time and full tilt graduating in 1964.  I continued on to medical school, still in Gainesville, graduating in 1968.  It was time for a change of scenery so I started my residency in general surgery at the Los Angeles County Harbor Hospital.  The times being what they were, I was drafted into the army in 1970.  My first year in the army was in North Carolina, but for the second year they sent me to Viet Nam.  I came back from that uninjured except for a bad case of barber rash.  I have not shaved since.  After the army I resumed the general surgery training and finished in 1975.  I then went on to train in plastic surgery completing that in 1977.  I was ready for more adventure so my first job after training was in the Congo, then known as Zaire.  I was supposed to stay a year but was kicked out after only 6 months.  There is a good story there, but maybe for another occasion.  I had already arranged for a job back at my old alma mater and they were only too happy that I showed up early.  For the next 28 years I moved through the academic life as assistant, then associate and finally full professor and chief.  It was a good career, but it eventually became a rut and once again I felt a need for a change of scenery.  I had visited Maine as a tourist a couple of times and when I heard the hospital in Bangor was looking for someone with my talents I jumped at the chance.  I originally thought I would put in 3 or 4 years and retire, but as of this writing (2010) I just don’t feel old enough, maybe in another 10 years or so.  As far a personal life goes, I have been married to my second wife for 20 years; long enough to be sure I got it right this time.  I have 4 kids and 6 grandchildren and everybody is happy and healthy.  I guess you really can’t ask for more than that.