Noel Robin, chair of medicine, beloved teacher at Stamford Hospital, steps down after 45 years
By Kat Russell, Reporter
Stamford Advocate
December 26, 2017
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Noel-Robin-Stamford-Hospital-s-chair-of-12455461.php
STAMFORD — “Art built on a magnificent science.”
That’s how Dr. Noel Robin, chair of medicine at Stamford Hospital, views the practice of medicine.
The science is obvious - medicine involves the study of the body’s different systems and the diseases that affect those systems - but the art he said is a bit more abstract.
“Medicine is such a beautiful art, because no matter how exacting the scientific principles, how do you transmit that in the care of your patients?” he said. “How do you care for a patient in a way so the patient understands what you’re doing and why?”
The answer for Dr. Robin lies in compassion, integrity and treating every patient equally, principles that have guided the doctor over the past four decades.
Robin came to Stamford Hospital nearly 45 years ago, when he was hired at the age of 32 to become the hospital’s first permanent chair of medicine, a position he said he “never in my dreams of dreams” thought he would land, and one he is stepping down from at the end of the year.
Dr. Craig Olin, a doctor of internal medicine, will take over as interim chair of medicine starting Jan. 1, according to Dr. Sharon Kiely, senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer at Stamford Hospital. Kiely said a search is underway for a candidate to fill Robin’s position permanently, shoes she said that will not be easily filled.
“The biggest gap is going to be in people’s hearts because Dr. Robin is very much a moral center and conscience for the medical staff,” she said. “These are impossible shoes to fill, and we’ve often joked that it would take five people to fill his place. The good news is Dr. Robin is leaving the hospital in great standing, and that is the sign of a great leader - leaving things in better shape than they were when he got here.”
Though stepping down as chair of medicine, Robin said he will continue to see patients at the hospital’s endocrinology clinic and he will continue to teach — something he is most passionate about.
“The hospital has given me so much over the years, and I love medicine and teaching,” he said. “I love being able to impart a lifetime of knowledge and skill to young students as well as the love and beauty of medicine to future generations.”
For much of his tenure as chair, Robin has also served as an assistant dean to the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, for which Stamford Hospital is a major teaching hospital, guiding thousands of medical students through a five-week education program. His methods have earned him multiple awards, including being named teacher of the year at Columbia and New York Medical College, with which the hospital has also been affiliated.
“The way Dr. Robin conducts himself is very much as a servant leader,” Kiely said. “While he may hold these very laudable positions, he is here to make other people successful and that has always been his attitude. He has great passion and enthusiasm for these young students and he is dedicated to seeing them succeed.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint one thing about Dr. Robin that we will miss,” said Dr. Eric Kung, medical director for the Department of Neurology at Stamford Hospital. “He is a dedicated good friend, who is passionate about the practice of medicine, the hospital and its patients.”
Kung came to the hospital for his residency in 2003, when Dr. Robin was the program director.
“Before I came to Stamford Hospital, I’d heard amazing feedback about Dr. Robin and I was looking forward to working under his leadership,” he said. “He is not just gifted in medicine. He is dedicated to the hospital’s residency program, to the teaching of medicine and the medical profession.”
Over the years, Kung said he and Dr. Robin have become good friends, sharing a love of classical music and the violin, and playing together in the Columbia University Medical College Symphony Orchestra.
“At first, it was difficult to accept his leaving,” Kung said. “But Dr. Robin taught me to be resilient, to keep going and to what’s best for the hospital and the community and I plan to hold on to what he has taught me.”
“It’s been a long tenure, and all I can say is how deeply grateful I am for this opportunity,” Robin said. “My medical colleagues are truly the dearest, most respected, treasured friends and associates I could ever have the privilege of working with, and more than anything I am going to miss working with them, but it’s time for a change.”
Robin said he is most looking forward to spending more time with his wife of more than 50 years, their three children and their seven grandchildren.
Robin said he is also in the fledgling stages of writing a book based on his teaching experience and dealing with “fundamental medical principles and how they relate to disease processes and emphasize that these principles are not abstractions, but they are linked to real life clinical situations that arise.”
He said he’s also looking forward to having time to pursue his other interests such as music, foreign languages and traveling.
“We are delighted that Dr. Robin will now have more time with his beautiful family and time to travel and pursue those things he is passionate about,” Kiely said. “Dr. Robin is beloved, and he’s one of these individuals that everyone respects and loves. He is truly a class act and we are all going to miss him.”
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
That’s how Dr. Noel Robin, chair of medicine at Stamford Hospital, views the practice of medicine.
The science is obvious - medicine involves the study of the body’s different systems and the diseases that affect those systems - but the art he said is a bit more abstract.
“Medicine is such a beautiful art, because no matter how exacting the scientific principles, how do you transmit that in the care of your patients?” he said. “How do you care for a patient in a way so the patient understands what you’re doing and why?”
The answer for Dr. Robin lies in compassion, integrity and treating every patient equally, principles that have guided the doctor over the past four decades.
Robin came to Stamford Hospital nearly 45 years ago, when he was hired at the age of 32 to become the hospital’s first permanent chair of medicine, a position he said he “never in my dreams of dreams” thought he would land, and one he is stepping down from at the end of the year.
Dr. Craig Olin, a doctor of internal medicine, will take over as interim chair of medicine starting Jan. 1, according to Dr. Sharon Kiely, senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer at Stamford Hospital. Kiely said a search is underway for a candidate to fill Robin’s position permanently, shoes she said that will not be easily filled.
“The biggest gap is going to be in people’s hearts because Dr. Robin is very much a moral center and conscience for the medical staff,” she said. “These are impossible shoes to fill, and we’ve often joked that it would take five people to fill his place. The good news is Dr. Robin is leaving the hospital in great standing, and that is the sign of a great leader - leaving things in better shape than they were when he got here.”
Though stepping down as chair of medicine, Robin said he will continue to see patients at the hospital’s endocrinology clinic and he will continue to teach — something he is most passionate about.
“The hospital has given me so much over the years, and I love medicine and teaching,” he said. “I love being able to impart a lifetime of knowledge and skill to young students as well as the love and beauty of medicine to future generations.”
For much of his tenure as chair, Robin has also served as an assistant dean to the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, for which Stamford Hospital is a major teaching hospital, guiding thousands of medical students through a five-week education program. His methods have earned him multiple awards, including being named teacher of the year at Columbia and New York Medical College, with which the hospital has also been affiliated.
“The way Dr. Robin conducts himself is very much as a servant leader,” Kiely said. “While he may hold these very laudable positions, he is here to make other people successful and that has always been his attitude. He has great passion and enthusiasm for these young students and he is dedicated to seeing them succeed.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint one thing about Dr. Robin that we will miss,” said Dr. Eric Kung, medical director for the Department of Neurology at Stamford Hospital. “He is a dedicated good friend, who is passionate about the practice of medicine, the hospital and its patients.”
Kung came to the hospital for his residency in 2003, when Dr. Robin was the program director.
“Before I came to Stamford Hospital, I’d heard amazing feedback about Dr. Robin and I was looking forward to working under his leadership,” he said. “He is not just gifted in medicine. He is dedicated to the hospital’s residency program, to the teaching of medicine and the medical profession.”
Over the years, Kung said he and Dr. Robin have become good friends, sharing a love of classical music and the violin, and playing together in the Columbia University Medical College Symphony Orchestra.
“At first, it was difficult to accept his leaving,” Kung said. “But Dr. Robin taught me to be resilient, to keep going and to what’s best for the hospital and the community and I plan to hold on to what he has taught me.”
“It’s been a long tenure, and all I can say is how deeply grateful I am for this opportunity,” Robin said. “My medical colleagues are truly the dearest, most respected, treasured friends and associates I could ever have the privilege of working with, and more than anything I am going to miss working with them, but it’s time for a change.”
Robin said he is most looking forward to spending more time with his wife of more than 50 years, their three children and their seven grandchildren.
Robin said he is also in the fledgling stages of writing a book based on his teaching experience and dealing with “fundamental medical principles and how they relate to disease processes and emphasize that these principles are not abstractions, but they are linked to real life clinical situations that arise.”
He said he’s also looking forward to having time to pursue his other interests such as music, foreign languages and traveling.
“We are delighted that Dr. Robin will now have more time with his beautiful family and time to travel and pursue those things he is passionate about,” Kiely said. “Dr. Robin is beloved, and he’s one of these individuals that everyone respects and loves. He is truly a class act and we are all going to miss him.”
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
