By Chloe Meyere, Duck Career Network Communications Associate and UO Student

Richard Allen ’58
Ob/Gyn, Former President, UOAA Board of Directors

When Dr. Richard Allen B.A. ’58 served as UOAA President from 1997-98, he was given the opportunity to deliver the commencement address to the year’s graduating class. During his speech, Allen referenced the film “Saving Private Ryan’s” core message: to live a good life is to do the right thing. He chose to share this concept with the eager graduates, because doing the right thing is his most valued principle, one which he not only embodies, but one he actively fosters among those who pursue a career in medicine as he has. 

Recognized for doing the right thing

Doing the right thing, Allen notes, is not as simple as following your moral compass. A medical career based on this principle means putting the needs of the patient first. It also requires a commitment to being open minded, available, and eager to help others, while being able to admit your own shortcomings and seeking help when you need it. Reflecting upon his long and accomplished career, Allen believes these principles helped him achieve success. 

In his 40 plus years in the medical community, Allen has received countless awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). His service to the profession spans decades and multiple geographies: he was elected President of the Multnomah County Medical Society, President of the Oregon Medical Association, and President of the Colorado Medical Society; becoming the only physician to be elected president of two different medical societies. In Oregon, he was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on the Uninsured, and from that group’s work, the Oregon Health Plan was developed. Because of that work and other accomplishments, he was named Oregon Doctor-Citizen of the Year in 1992. 

Shaping future medical professionals

Allen’s service to the profession includes being an AMA delegate representing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and he was also elected Chair of the AMA’s Council on Medical Education. From there, he was appointed to the ACGME, where he became Chair. In this latter role, Allen was instrumental in the development of Core Competency Programs within graduate medical education in the U.S. It was for this work that both the AMA and the ACOG awarded him their highest honor, the aforementioned Distinguished Service Award. In 2002, Allen returned to Oregon as the Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) where he was instrumental in developing a re-entry training program for physicians who had taken a leave of absence from practice, but who were now needing to update their skills for licensure.

Being open to helping others has itself opened doors to opportunity

“I never went to medical school saying, ‘I want to win this award or be president of this board.’ I think I was just always open to helping people. If a colleague needed help, I always tried to step up and do what I could. Maybe I was in the right place at the right time, but being open to opportunities and just focusing on how I could help someone else in the moment, without wondering how something would help me 10 years down the road, is what got me here.” 

Dr. Allen acknowledges that constantly being open to helping others is sometimes challenging, and managing time and maintaining balance are crucial skills to have. As an undergraduate student and later as a medical student, Allen quickly had to learn how to manage a rigorous schedule while making time for his interests. Allen exceled as quickly in his personal pursuits as he did in his career. As a medical resident, he spent time volunteering for the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, where he later served as the President of the Board as part of his 20 years of service. To this day, he sings with the Multnomah Athletic Club Balladeers, a group for whom he also served as president. He also plays an active role on the board of his church. 

Asking for help also leads to good practice

Although his list of accomplishments continues both personally and professionally, Allen acknowledges that achieving success can be augmented when you ask for help. When he did so himself, Allen received very meaningful professional advice that he took to heart.
Allen explained, “A physician once sat me down and gave me some advice, advice I have tried to pass on to every young doctor I’ve mentored. He told me a big problem with physicians is that they often use the ‘hand on the door’ approach to medicine; [the doctor doesn’t even sit down to talk with a patient, because] there’s pressure to get as many people in and out the door, as quickly as possible. It becomes challenging to form a real connection with patients [with this model]. This physician told me to spend time talking with a patient in my office after every appointment. I would answer questions and discuss their concerns and the results of their visit, should there be any. This [action] helped me form real doctor-patient relationships, and usually only took an extra 5 or 10 minutes.”

Being human and mitigating professional liability

In addition to forming strong relationships, Allen believes making time for his patients is one of the reason he has never faced a malpractice suit, compared to many OB/GYNs that do. His ability to show genuine interest in his patient’s lives showed them that he had their best interest at heart. Currently, Allen helps physicians through workshops on risk management and loss prevention for the Oregon Medical Association.

Success is doing the right thing 

 “Our time here on Earth is represented by two dates, and a dash in between. The important part, the part we leave behind, is that dash. ‘What did you do with that dash and how did you do it?’ To me, I think that if I stick to my guns and apply the ‘do the right thing’ principle to whatever I do, I can make that dash more meaningful.”