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GENERATIONAL
PERSPECTIVES

Keeping medicine
in the family:
A father-daughter
medical practice

By Harmon Kelley, MD

As I look back on my career as an obstetrician and gynecologist, tient plans, medical articles, and most of all to operate with her.
I am reflective about how fulfilling it has been to have been a doctor. However, it can be a challenge to be a teacher and a father. Some-
Though there have been many changes in medicine, especially in times, I have been reminded by my wife to be mindful of my tone
regards to technology, some as aspects, such as establishing care and when I correct Margaret, but overall we have made a wonderful
trust with a patient, have not changed. As opposed to when, I began team.
my educational course to become a physician; there are so many
more opportunities for my daughter, Margaret. The benefits of having a child who is a doctor who works with
one, is that she can help me with the medical technology changes.
In 1967, I graduated from Prairie View A&M University and I Many of my colleagues of my generation, decided to retire rather
matriculated to The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galve- that deal with the complexities of electronic records in the office and
ston. Until 1965, UTMB had been the only medical school in Texas in the hospital. It is nice to have one’s personal computer tutor. She
that would admit black students. The University of Arkansas had has patiently helped me with the technology advances, and therefore
admitted its first students in 1948 and Baylor College of Medicine extended my years of practicing.
had admitted its first black student in 1965. When I graduated from
UTMB in 1971, there were only two black students in the medical Therefore, in short, I have had a fulfilling career. I am grateful for
school. Though early in my course of study, I felt alone and isolated, the opportunities I was afforded. I have tried to show my apprecia-
I was fortunate to have a group of fellow white classmates who be- tion by mentoring others. In addition, I have an answer when pa-
friended me and invited me to join their fraternity. I will always be tients ask me, “Who will care for them when I retire?” I tell them
grateful for their true act of friendship. Over the years, because of Margaret will be here, and I have no doubt she will carry on the tra-
my gratitude for the opportunity that UTMB afforded me, I have dition of caring for my patients well.
served on the Alumni Board of Trustees of UTMB and Chairman
of UTMB’s Minority Advisory Council. In addition, my wife and I Harmon W. Kelley, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., is an OB-GYN who has prac-
have established a Presidential Endowed scholarship for a Prairie ticed in the Southeast area of San Antonio for 39 years. He is an Ashbel
View A&M University graduate who matriculates to UTMB. Smith Distinguished Alumnus of UTMB and a Bexar County Medical
Society Golden Aesculapius Award recipient.
My wife Harriet, daughters, Jennifer and Margaret and I moved
to San Antonio in 1978, after I completed my obstetrics and gyne-
cology residency and military commitment. I opened my practice
in the Southeast area next to Southeast Baptist Hospital, where it
has remained for 39 years. My good friend and colleague, James
Hadnott, MD, advised me in establishing my practice.

In 2002, my daughter Margaret joined my medical practice. She
too is an obstetrician and gynecologist. It has been a unique rela-
tionship being father and daughter, but also colleagues. It has been
so rewarding to spend the last 15 years mentoring and teaching her.
Also, it has been a pleasure to pass knowledge and skills that I have
accumulated onto her. In addition, it has been a joy to discuss pa-

22 San Antonio Medicine • May 2017