Dr. Padriac Sweeny Steps Down As Leader of MCES
There is an old adage called an "Irish goodbye" which is the act of leaving an event without actually telling everyone that you're leaving. Dr. Padraic Sweeny tried very hard to do just that as he retired June 30th from a 35 year career at the DMC. As Pat is someone who seems to shy away from receiving accolades and never boasts about his accomplishments, even sending me some biographical material for this article took a long time and a lot of prodding for him to do. Although Dr. Sweeny does not want a lot of pomp and circumstance made of his retirement, his remarkable service to the DMC, Detroit and our patients deserve a few words at the very least.
Sweeny was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and was one of 6 children raised by a (very) strong Italian American widow. He attended Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University which has led to a lot of celebrating and commiserating with Dr. Ledgerwood (an alumna of Gonzaga) as their NCAA basketball team makes its way through the 'big dance' nearly every March.
After one year of a surgery residency in Portland, Pat moved to Seattle to start in an orthopedic residency at a Public Service Hospital which also included 2 shifts a month in the E.D.work that he came to love. The fishing rod was baited! A friend steered him to the nascent specialty of Emergency Medicine and after a look at 4 programs, he left his Fiat Spider convertible out west and chose Detroit. Maybe it's just my love of history, but can you imagine what it was like to train in a new, exciting specialty with our founding membersRon Krome, Judy Tintinalli, Blaine White and Brooks Bock? Pat loaded up the U-Haul and headed to Detroit to start training in a 1 month old shiny new hospital without a place to stay or a car, fully expecting to be back in the Pacific Northwest in 3 years. Apparently his fellow residents had a good laugh when he showed up for his first shift in a tie and white coat and was on the receiving end of a right hook from a patient. Welcome! Although Pat had told his colleagues to watch for his red tail lights heading west as soon as residency was over, as he was looking to rent a truck to do just that, Dr. Bock approached him about staying onoffering a Vice Chief position at DRH (along with Dr. Daya) and enticing Pat with his plans to turn our Section of Surgery into a full Academic Department and to see Emergency Medicine recognized as a true medical specialty. The fishing hook was set!
Pat was very clear that he didn't want a lot of fanfare regarding his many accomplishments so I'll simply list some of the highlights. Vice Chief-DRH ED 1984-2005, Chief-HUH ED 1985-2005, VPMA (CMO) DRH 1999-2005, Chief-DRH ED 2005-2019 and President of MCES 2005-2019.
What Pat did want is tribute paid to the people he credits with giving him the skills and talents needed to be successful, including the academic leadership examples of Blaine White, Suzanne White and Brian O'Neil as well as leaders of all our ED sites over the years. To quote Sweeny, "I was enabled and took bows for what all those clinical and academic physicians did." Most of all he credits Brooks Bock for many years of mentorship and proper examples of how to lead. (Remember, Brooks helped establish not only the recognized specialty of Emergency Medicine, but also along with Blaine White, MCES' evolution to full departmental status within the WSU SOM which led to having the respect of not only the DMC but also WSU SOM. This was huge!) Pat quips that Brooks' final words of advice were, "Just don't screw it up!" The past number of years may have been tumultuous as to the relationship between the DMC and WSU, but MCES has remained the respected constant in the middle of any issues. Although Pat was the leader through this time, he still credits his mentors. His (true) humility even extended to Pat hiding the portrait of him that now hangs in 3R! One thing that deserves to be said is that Pat cares deeply about this city, its residents and this Medical Center along with its patients, doctors, nurses and all ancillary personnel. (I may not have named my youngest son Padraic after him, but I am happy that a lot of people think I did!)
So what's next? It sounds like he will be even busier after retirement. He and his wife Julie (a former 'top gun' DMC ED nurse and now nurse practitioner) certainly have a long list…kayaking, biking, a train trip across the Canadian Rockies and lots of other travelling. His stack of books to read apparently could fill a small library. Pat plans to keep a hand in the education of residents and students, and of course, more time with his 2 children, their spouses and their children where he plans to 'meddle and turn the grandkids against their parents'. Pat will also keep a promise to the many Jesuits who helped his widowed mother, five young siblings and him through difficult times by looking for avenues to model the Jesuit ethos of service to others.
In keeping with the Irish goodbye theme, all Pat really wanted me to write was, "He left with a smile on his face but a heavy heart." I'm sorry and I tried not to overdo it or embarrass you, but your career and example to others deserved at least a little tribute.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wing always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Slảinte Paddy Boyo!
