Richard Boyd:
CLASS OF 1981
Midlothian High SchoolClass of 1981
Midlothian, VA
Trinity Episcopal High SchoolClass of 1981
Richmond, VA
Robious Middle SchoolClass of 1977
Midlothian, VA
Robious Elementary SchoolClass of 1976
Midlothian, VA
Chamberlayne Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Richmond, VA
Richard's Story
Life
Practicing medicine is amazing and largely indescribable! Pretty far out!
At KU the most important part of graduation is the long procession from the campus (Memorial Drive) through the base of the Campanille down the hill and into the stadium as the saying goes, "the walk IS the ceremony". This second walk "down the hill" is going to be special. This has been a LONG HAUL, this trip started with my first semester "Fall 2000", but despite the challenges HERE we are... at the END of the game. The first trip was trilling and for most a once in a lifetime experience, yet somehow I get another try!
I will graduate a few months before my 46th birthday. While many classmates are just starting families, we are beginning to have ours leave the nest! Renee (22), Erin (20), Rebecca (17), Ricky (12), Nathan (10) and Hope (8).
While I get to go through the graduation and get the MD behind my name. I owe the greatest share of the credit to my wife of 23 years Kathryn. Kathy is truely in every sense of the word, "the wind beneath my wings". This endeavor is really no different except for size from the dozens and dozens of times I have wanted to "try something new". Gee Kathy what do you think about me joining the Rescue Squad... being a firefighter... going to nursing school... joining the Army... could I take a break from nursing and drive a semi-truck etc.
She has, as usual, completely supported me during all of this, even when the going was tough, I was given (automatically) whatever I needed: A firm bucking up when I stumbled, an unlimited measure of encouragement and confidence, a push out the door on those Sunday afternoons that I did not want to end and even a reminder that she did not care if I was a doctor or not; I was her "hero" just like I am! While Kathy or the kids have never uttered a word of complaint or protest, I happen to know there were untold sacrifices. Kathy went way above an beyond, when I was home she cleared the agenda so that ALL my time at home was spent in "quality" time with the family NO "honeydos" or demands except to relax and "play".
It was a PRICELESS and frankly humbling gift when I could come home every weekend while doing the undergraduate stuff in Lawrence, but even more remarkable when it continued and even enhanced when medical school started and my "free" time evaporated further, first the visits dropped to every other weekend and eventually once a month or LESS.
She was able to keep the kids enthusiastic about the project all the way through. Because kids tend to mirror the feelings and attitudes of the parents the scope (breadth and depth) of her efforts is easy to appreciate. Kathy made sure I carried NO emotional baggage like guilt when I had to go back to school. I am painfully aware of the role guilt plays in academic performance, I could not count all of the non-traditional (most being "smarter" with stronger academic backgrounds) I knew who failed for the simple lack of emotional support at home.
My accomplishment can only be understood and placed into a correct context by considering their part. In light of the sacrifices made by Kathy and "the gang", my OWN cheer leading section, HOW could I have failed? As I come to the end, I have learned at least ONE of lifes "TRUTHS": the love, support and faith of ones family (especially a wife) CAN overcome ANY obstacle, not the least of which (in my case) a painful shortage of "natural ability".
Dr Richard A Boyd MD
FROM THE OLD PROFILE SECTION:
We are settled into our "new" house (built in 1883), the house has been in the previous owner's family for over 100 years. They have done all of the really nice updates like dual zone central heat and air. The old place has a rich history, it was a boarding house during WW II, since Boeing built B-17's and B-29's right here in Wichita. A new roof was just installed and some new fences were just completed. Kathy is in process of placing the house on the "National Register of Historic Places".
Workplace
I have done just about everything over the years...
I was lifeguard in High school. I was a member of the Midlothian Volunteer Fire Department in High School as well.
I also did a lot of mechanical pool work, Pumps, building in ground pools, spa installation, filter systems etc. with Swimming Pool Consultants and while moonlighting in the Air Force at Hanson's Spa and pools in Colorado Springs.
While in the Air Force I did a lot of different stuff, "Law Enforcement Specialist" for the first two years, to try something new, I cross trained as an "Interior Electrician" (600 volts and below), I was trained as a "classified materials cargo courier" (sounds romantic?... it ain't, it means you draw live ammo even in excercises and ride in the BACK of the truck or aircraft and guard the M-16's). I was trained on the snow removal crew, (this where I learned to drive trucks (the 10 speed "Road Ranger transmissions" especially on snow and ice)
After the AF, I did what every little boy dreams of... I got PAID to dig HOLES!! I was a heavy equipment operator; 941 Caterpillars, backhoes of every description and of course TRUCKS. In the winter when it was to wet or frozen to DIG, I was the "train guy" at Hobbicraft selling, fixing, building and custom painting model trains! (the ultimate job... I would have still been doing it if I could have made a living at it....)
During that time I got involved with the Volunteer Rescue Squad, First Manchester then Bensley Burmuda. After several years, I decided to convert this into a career. I worked for the Chesterfield County Fire Department as a Firefighter/ Medic I spent time at Engine 9 (Buford), Engine and medic 11 (Iron Bridge), Engine 3 (Bensley in the old station "Camp Piney"). Medic 8 (Matoaca), Engine2 then Truck 2 (Manchester) and Truck 7 (Clover Hill). Since we worked 24 on and 48 off most guys, myself included, had other jobs.
Doing part time work, I did stint as a phlebotomist / lab aide / courrier at American Medical Labs. I sold tools and hardware at Sears (Cloverleaf Mall). I worked as a telemetry monitor in the CCU at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital. When my boss there, who I LIKED transfered, I followed her and thus became involved with medical research, I worked for BioClin (affiliated with the MCV School of Pharmacy). Bioclin conducts Phase II and III double blind clinical trials as part of the FDA approval process for new or reclassified drugs.
That gig...Expand for more
particularly fit the jack of all trades hat... we did a lot of timed blood draws, telemetry, specimen processing, patient evaluation, 12 lead EKG's. I was paid well but the experiance was worth MORE than money. I eventually was responsible for the entire unit during the overnight hours. Bioclin got me through nursing school! Nearly all study protocols had a designated "lights out" time, and unless there was some timed test specified or issue to monitor, I was there simply to babysit. I would get the study subjects settled in, then I would study all night, go to class in the morning finish about noon, then home and to bed... all set to get up at 10pm and do it again!
By the time Nursing School was over, the Boyd family was ready for something NEW. Plus, starting a new career is a time letter-perfect time for a change-up, no professional "roots" like senority. I visited my grandmother in Sabetha Kansas, I really dug the easy pace and MUCH lower cost of living. So, I called Kathy to see what she thought (see above) her answer, "when do we MOVE". I introduced myself to the local hospital and went back home to finish my senior year. The month before I graduated, I was offered a job in Sabetha. I worked as a "country nurse"... that is to say on a given day I could see patients in the ER and then work Labor and Delivery and take care of a med surg patients...
My first nursing job provided me with a tough learning curve! One of my life philosophies is that one can learn as much from a rotten experience as a positive one IF you are paying attention! It proved tougher than I though transforming from the world view and outlook of "big city, eastern, mostly male, action oriented, firefighter, medic (medical model trained), who lived, ate, slept and knew WELL the same 4 or 8 co-workers PERMANENTLY" into the a "small town, midwestern, mostly female, routine oriented, nurses (nursing model trained), who were usually second incomes and who may not know anything about co-workers other than through rumors". The one thing I CAN say, I lasted a WHOLE 6 months longer that the previous male nurse (a retired ARMY nurse; former Ranger) did.
I gave notice and had trained my replacement when my NEW job fell through, I found myself out of a job, with newborn son (two days old), three days before Christmas. "Kathy, I am SICK of nursing at present would it be OK if I do something ELSE for a while?" (you all know the answer right?) I pulled out the old CDL and went to trucking. I pulled a flatbed for Keim Transportation, I did this until two things happened I found a great nursing gig at Plaza West in Topeka, and I was offered a commission in the Army Reserve as an Army Nursing Corp Officer.
I basically bounced between Driving for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Nursing, I switched back and fourth roughly annually (same job both places... with the nursing a promotion each time). When I went back to KU in 2000, I quit as the Director of Nursing. I continue to drive during winter and summer breaks... the company changed from DFA to Signor Norfolk NE
Military
After Graduation from High School, I served in the US Air Force. I served at the US Air Force Academy. That is where I met Kathy who was also active duty. It was a very exciting time to serve in the AF, I came on during the height of the Reagan build up. When I think about the international political climate now that period seems so long ago, a different time.
How "far out" the movie "Red Dawn" now seems but in some ways, those of us tasked the the nation's defense, saw it differently. I recall a particular briefing in which we were told quite plainly that as security forces our job was the essence of simplicity, we were to guard the aircraft and ensure they made it into the air when "the time came". Once the birds were away, our job then shifted to a euphamistic term "base denial", we were taught extensivly how to destroy everything of possible use to the "Red Horde". It was made clear that in the grand scheme, once these two tasks were complete our job and by extension priority was done...
We were proud and we were prepared. My unit at the Air Force Academy (7625th Security Police Squadron) had a worldwide mobility committment. I was trained in weapons not typical of "cops" (such as the M-60 machine gun, considered a "crew served weapon system". I remember being given immunizations to diseases all over the world. Some were "classified"... I thought nothing about it at the time... and I seem to have had no long term effects... oh WAIT... maybe I could blame my HAIRLOSS on these immunizations! THATS IT.... I am follicularly challenged FOR MY COUNTRY!!!
I later cross trained to the 7625th Civil Engineers, the "interior electric shop". At that time it was a mixed shop with civilians paired with the GI's. The most memorable characters were Willie G. Knight, who never failed to amuse us with stories of how he had it so much more difficult in the military than we did, less money less freedom etc. There was Antonio P Flores "Tony Flo from Pueblo", a superative electrician and mentor! Bob Brumbach (we called him "Buford" cause he could have a firm streak... but a GREAT guy.
When I graduated from Nursing School I took a Commission in the Army Reserve. I was in the 7211th Medical Support Unit. This unit was small with only about 50 members, thus it was a always a very close knit group The commander LTC (Dr) Claudia McAllaster was an inspirational leader and always encouraged the best in her troops. Since we were a TDA unit (no equipment) and a rather mudane drill routine, Colonel McAllaster encouraged participation in whatever "fun stuff" was available. She excused from regular duty a great number of soldiers and officers for nearly a year to train up for the Expert Field Medical Badge testing. These soldiers and an officers (me included) were some of the first in the 89th RSC to earn the badge as RESERVISTS. During the final part of the Clinton administration we were deacivated. Since I missed the small unit, I went to the IRR.
I got out during my second year at KU since it began to look like I was going to "make it" to medical school. I had been on the "hot list" (volunteer for overseas deployment) for Bosnia for almost 5 years, the Army never took me up on the offer... But a deployment during my undergraduate or especially NOW in Medical School would pretty much torpedo the whole thing... so I reluctantly got out.
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