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MARVIN FORLAND, MD,

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR IN

MEDICAL ETHICS

By Ruth Berggren, MD, MACP
Director, Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics

When I became Acting Director of the Center for Medical Humanities &
Ethics, I discovered that Marvin Forland, MD, MACP, came with the job.
As a newcomer to UT Health San Antonio, I had little background on this
respected and kind clinician, teacher and Professor Emeritus who, as a
founding faculty member, had a lifelong intellectual interest in medical ethics
and the humanities.
I came to San Antonio in 2006 when our family made the decision to leave
New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina turned our lives upside down. My hus-
band had an outstanding job offer in Hematology & Oncology; I was assured
of an associate professorship in Infectious Diseases. The exciting opportu-
nity at the Center came barely a year later.
When I arrived, I knew Marvin only in passing. It did not take long to
recognize how remarkable he is: He retired after a long, distinguished ca-
reer in medicine and academia – and only then, in partnership with former
Medical Dean Steven Wartman, MD, PhD, established the Center for Med-
ical Humanities & Ethics in 2002. This Center, which reflects Marvin’s
conviction about the central importance of ethical decision-making in
medical education, is his legacy and great gift to our university and San
Antonio community.
Over time, I also learned about his dedication to medicine as a profession
rather than an enterprise, as well as his devotion to patients, students, and
conceive, sharing his wisdom first with Dr. Verghese San Antonio. Never overwhelming, he was at my side – still is – every day
and now with Ruth Berggren, M.D., MACP, who as- for the past 11 years as a mentor and a vigilant but gentle presence, just as
sumed the directorship in 2007. he was for my predecessor, Abraham Verghese, MD, MACP. Marvin helped
“Dr. Forland is like the candle that lights our path us chart a path, a curriculum, and a fundraising strategy, making introduc-
and a driving force behind everything our Center tions to influential friends who care about humanism in medicine, excellence
does in preparing tomorrow’s healers to act with in educational offerings for medical students, and service to humanity. He
compassion and justice,” Dr. Berggren said. broadened our outlook and showed the value of careful listening and ob-
Dr. Forland describes three priorities that have servation skills that come through our McNay art partnership and our liter-
shaped his career: delivering quality health care, ex- ature program, both powerful approaches to nurturing empathy. Marvin also
panding the availability of care and enriching the embraced my vision of engaged scholarship through community service
medical school experience. The Center, he says, com- learning, a program now receiving national recognition by the Association
bines all three. of American Medical Colleges because we are preparing a compassionate,
“It dazzles me, the range of activities that Dr. community-minded, culturally competent health care workforce for our
Verghese, Dr. Berggren and associated faculty and country and state.
staff have been able to build here,” said Dr. Forland, I have enjoyed warm recognition for the growth and success of our Cen-
citing the use of humanities, community service ter, but it is Marvin Forland, recently honored by the Bexar County Medical
learning and global health in addition to traditional Society for a lifetime of distinguished service, to whom we owe a great debt
ethics instruction. “It far surpasses our initial plans.” of gratitude for staying the course.

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