“Although my experience with Jim was very limited, his enthusiasm and passion for teaching was unmatched. He was always so approachable and made a truly sincere effort to share his knowledge with you….it never felt like he was trying to outsmart you or prove you wrong. His career, as short as it was, will probably be more remarkable than most. He left an impact on all he came across and he will always be remembered by me as an extraordinary leader.”

Shilpa Rao Kasuganti, MD
PGY4, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

“Jim was always patient, passionate, and willing to teach me (though I am not the most willing student). From taking one-on-one time to help me prepare for a lecture to teaching a bunch of us who just wanted to go home to letting me perform injections when it was "his" injection to do. I want to thank him posthumously for giving us all a role model to aspire to be. His loss is felt by not only us who knew him (however briefly) but by those who will never get to interact with him.”

Cherina Cyborski, MD
PGY4, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

“I was so saddened to hear about Jim's death. It really puts everything into perspective...
Just a few thoughts on Jim: Intelligent. Thoughtful. Caring. Always ready to help you in any way. He will be missed.”

Joan Le, MD
RIC Grad

“Obviously Jim had a lot of energy, it showed in everything that he did and was immediately obvious upon looking at him physically. Fortunately for those who had the chance to meet him was that coupled with this energy was a great desire to help others and unmatched generosity. When my wife and I were getting ready to move to a new apartment during our last year at RIC we woke to the news that two of our friends that were supposed to help us move were sick and couldn’t make it and that the maintenance man from our building who we had hired to help us for the day got called into work.

This left us with few options; we had nobody to help us. Although moving is a favor typically reserved for only the closest of friendships Jim had offered his help to us the day before. I had little choice but to call in the favor. He didn’t answer my call and so I left a message. I assumed that, like most people faced with the option of spending their weekend moving someone they had just met, he would call me the next day and apologize for missing my message.

Jim showed up an hour or so later. He had just done a “leg work-out” and ran like 10 miles. He spent the whole day and the better part of the night with us, helping to move our apartment, literally lifting and carrying thousands of pounds in and out of the truck. He did this after first waking up that morning and working out and then jogging almost a half marathon. My wife and I were so grateful for his help, we really didn’t know what we would have done without him. We sat and cried together today when we heard the news.”


Daniel Heller, MD
RIC Alum

Richmond, Virginia

“When I heard the tragic news about Jim, I was devastated. Jim was a fellow in our sports and spine program when I was a senior resident at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Although I only knew Jim for one year while he was living in Chicago, I know that he made a dynamic impact on me and other residents in our program. Jim probably put in at least an extra 40 hours per week strictly for resident teaching. He was not required to put in all that extra time – he did it because he cared about the residents and he loved to teach. Listening to him teach made you want to learn and it made you want to be a better physician.

I keep thinking back to the time that I spent with Jim last year. There are a few distinct episodes that stick out in my mind. I would like share a few of those with you. When Jim started his fellowship at RIC, I was chief resident. Part of the responsibility that comes with that title includes scheduling all of the resident lectures. One of our lecture series, the “Sports and Spine” lectures, was primarily given by the residents to the other residents. It was kind of like residents teaching other residents. But, the first couple months of that lecture series was given by the fellows to make sure that all the fundamental concepts get covered thoroughly (and to make sure that the residents could see how these lectures should be done the right way and didn’t screw up too badly when we were on our own to give these lectures!). Now, you have to remember that the academic year starts in July and Jim had his PM&R boards coming up in August. These lectures were every Wednesday. So, basically, on Wednesdays from the beginning of July, Jim had the responsibility of giving a one hour lecture to the residents. Now, I knew in my mind that he had his boards coming up in a month and I felt so guilty asking him to take time away from his studying to give these lectures so that I can put it in the schedule. Never once did Jim complain that he does not have time for these lectures. Not once did he mention that he should be studying or doing something more productive. And every single lecture that Jim gave was outstanding and it was obvious that he put in several hours to prepare for these lectures. Not a single lecture was incomplete. Not a single question was left unanswered.

Another episode that sticks out in my mind has to do with Jim’s passion for teaching. Jim had basically written an entire course on electromyography while he was a resident in New Jersey and wanted to make sure that he continues to develop the course for the residents’ benefit. So, after a few meetings and after a few discussions, we were able to implement this course into our curriculum at RIC. Now, when I say that he developed this course – I mean he developed this course from scratch. He had designed a schedule, there was course material that he had written, he had written a self study guide, he had written self assessment questions, and the list goes on and on. Basically, there was a binder at least 3 inches thick with course material that he had written. As part of this course for the residents, he made a color copy of this material and gave every resident a binder. Why did Jim do this? Because he cared and because he genuinely wanted to make sure that all the residents learned. So, after I found out about all this, I was impressed. No fellow had ever taken that much effort into teaching the residents. The next time I ran into Jim I thanked him for everything that he was doing for the residents and I told him that I understand that making copies of all those binders must have been very expensive and he should give me the receipt so that he can be reimbursed. I mean, really, it was the least I could do. Jim refused and said it was not a big deal and he shrugged it off and said if it even helps one person, he has done something right. I don’t know if he realized how many people he helped with his efforts.

When Jim left RIC, so did I and the rest of my class. Everyone went their separate ways. Jim headed to Kansas City to join faculty there, Gary headed to Arkansas to become faculty there. My classmates went all over the country including California, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Utah and few stayed in Chicago.

I distinctly remember thinking about Jim when I was leaving Chicago. I remember thinking to myself that I had never met anyone so genuine and good-hearted, not mention enthusiastic about medicine, passionate about teaching, smart and innovative. He was always talking about new research ideas that he wanted to answer one day. I knew that I was going to see him again one day at a future academy meeting and everyone in PM&R was going to know his name because he was going places.

It is times like these when you wonder how bad things can happen to good people. I don’t think anyone has an answer. Jim will always be lovingly remembered as a friend, teacher and colleague. “

Kavita Trivedi DO
RIC Grad

Pain Fellow, University of Michigan

Prom!!

Jim as cowboy

Jimmy (on the left) and Justin when they were little

photos submitted by Marlena McLean

"I work in the Procedure Suite at RIC/SSRC. Jim was a bright light when he was our Fellow. I can still see his smile that never left his face while he was here. After he left for Kansas and came back to Chicago to visit, he always stopped here – I will miss seeing him pop around the corner to say hello! My sincerest heartfelt sympathy extends to his family, girlfriend and his friends. He will be truly missed!"

Christine Pfeil
Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Center

"I am not sure that there is anything that I can say about Jim that has not already been said several times over especially through the words of Gary and Gautam and all of those who came to know and love him over the same years that I did the same. Jim and I met first year at NJMS in 1998. We were friendly for the first few years mainly through time at the gym and the occasional class that we both actually attended at the same time. We became closer over the 3rd and 4th years as our interests in PM&R grew and our clinical time overlapped more. When we started residency together that bond grew. While Jim was always faster, stronger and more dedicated, he and I along with Casey, Gary, and Brian spent quite a few hours riding and swimming together. I remember him refueling from my snack drawer, leaving my wife and I with nothing to eat for a a while. I remember him on the bank of some lake in Mountain Lakes, wetsuit on, wading into the sometimes too cold water at a definitely too early an hour. I remember him at our research sessions (we did our senior project together at Kessler) always excited by the turnout and the results. I remember how he was always taking on more than any other two of us could handle. Mostly I remember that through all of the BS that comes with the hoops we all jump through in our chosen profession, there were very few complaints and more smiles on Jim than I have worn on my face in my lifetime. My classmates know that I may have been the most serious and stoic in our class but Jim's smile had a habit of being contagious and it always made those cold swims and late nights at Kessler studying or gathering data that much more enjoyable. I haven't kept in touch with Jim as much as I should have over the last year or so but I miss him already. Rest in Peace."

Kyle Stier, MD
UMDNJ-NJMS PM&R 2006
UMDNJ-NJMS 2002

“I got to know Jim pretty well over the last year and a half. When he got to RIC, he made friends easily. He had such a gentle and genuine way about him that all the residents were drawn to him. He took so much pride in being a good physician, a good teacher, a good friend, and a good person. I went to him often for advice on clinical issues and professional issues. My education at RIC was elevated immeasurably because of the influence of the Jim and Gary team.

Beyond his intelligence, professional diligence and enthusiasm for physiatry, however, Jim was a truly special friend and human being. I think about the ripple-effect when I think about Jim. Anyone who ever interacted with him came away a better person. His kindness, his ability to put things in perspective, the way he could laugh-off insignificant issues rubbed off on me and many others. His impact on people was truly exponential.

I also had a lot of good times with Jim. Outside of our days at RIC, we spent a lot of good times on the road. Last May, we were in New Orleans together for the ACSM Annual Meeting. He was on the tail end of a whirlwind of trips and presentations. The night before his presentation at the ACSM, he was up all night putting the finishing touches on his talk. He was also sick, and nearly lost his voice. His presentation came off flawless, but more importantly, his physical condition didn't stop him from coming out for Oysters and Bloody Mary's the next day. Gary, Hector, Jim and I spent a lot of time in the French Quarter solving life's most important dilemmas like "who was the worst draft pick in the 2001 NBA draft?, or what was the best 80's movie?" Similarly, in Boston this past September, I remember Jim making a lot of last minute changes to his presentation (I think I have come across a theme of procrastination). But once again, this was followed by good times and good talks. Jim was focused and worked hard. But he always made time to enjoy himself and his friends.

I will miss you dearly Jim, but please know that I am a better person for having known you, and your spirit will live on in every life you touched.”

Scott T. Roberts, MD
Spine and Sports Fellow
Visiting Instructor, Division of PM&R University of Utah
scott.roberts@utah.hsc.edu

Jim and his brother Justin

---reproduced with permission from Gautam's blog-----------------------------------

http://eovageekclub.blogspot.com/2008/01/memories-of-jim.html

Memories of Jim

It's now 1:30 a.m. on January 21, 2008. I received two phone calls from my buddy Gary. I missed both of them. Maybe it was fortunate. The voicemail said that Jim McLean had passed this weekend during the snowboarding accident in Colorado. I saw that Jim's brother Justin had also left a message so I called him back. I actually started to get just a slight bit of emotion coming through my voice. I told him that I would be available at any time to help the family and to pass on the information to his residents and programs. I came upstairs and replayed Gary's voicemail on speakerphone. Monica began sobbing loudly. I comforted her and then walked away so that I could talk Gary and clear my head. Gary sounded a little lost in his voice. It seemed he had all this emotion and intention but no clear outlet with which to produce something. We spoke in tones and inflections as if nothing had happened. But the content was clearly corrupted by the news we had just taken in. Gary had taken care of calling all of Jim’s co-residents etc. At this point he was trying to figure out how to pay tribute to Jim McLean as an outlet. I figured I would try to do the same.

I first was aware of Jim during residency when he was approaching the insurance reps during our Kessler resident lunch hour. I heard him say that he lives in the same town as me and in no time we became study partners. He had become habituated to studying at Starbucks so I honored his request the first time. He was determined to read the Braddom textbook from cover to cover within his first year. He was working on understanding/memorizing the anatomy of the limbs. I was studying an article by Asa Wilbourne on radiculopathy. In order to understand something I have to be able to teach it, and he was soaking up every bit of what I was telling him. I think he was sold on the idea of studying with me and therefore respected my wishes to try studying at my parents house.

What really sealed the deal for our studying there, were the endless bountiful meals offered by my parents. Even they were impressed with the frequency and amplitude of portions ingested by Jim with a huge grin on his face. My parents used to love feeding him. It seemed to all of us that his gut was an inexhaustible infinite receptacle of food. His classmate Gary, was known to be a competitive eater in his pre-medical life. It was widely accepted that everyone should get their food from the buffet table before Gary and Jim had a chance to deplete the resources. (I suppose he had to eat like a champ in order to do the training of a champ.)

Whatever we studied that first day in my basement, required that I printed out my notes. Jim found this to be a bit excessive and he did not hesitate to tell me so. I showed him the process that I went through and he was doubly sure that this was not something he was going to explore. To him, it just did not seem to justify the time spent. The next day he showed me what he had studied in a handout format. He had completely co-opted my style and was taking it to the next step. He went handout crazy after that and served as the source of positive competitive spirit for me.

He took in all of my advice but was very careful not to let any of the negative aspects of it slow him down. I remember being amazed at how diplomatically he could get me to do things without my knowledge of it at the time for example, it is well known that I am physically quite lazy. But somehow he got me to help him move out of his apartment with two other people who clearly were not averse to physical activity. I still can’t believe that happened in retrospect.

I remember one day when we were studying in my parents basement and he sat down at my drum kit. He started to play something that caught my attention. He had played percussion in his middle school band. I immediately saw the potential rock drummer in him. By treating rock drumming as a math problem, I was able to teach him enough to play a few songs at the program's graduation party. He attacked this task with the same intensity, drive, and comprehensiveness that he did everything else. No one could believe that he was holding his own on a stage with a bunch of musicians with years of experience.

Jim drumming at Kessler graduation (photo by Jenfu Cheng)

Jim was an excellent multitasker. He simultaneously participated in a number of potentially publishable research projects, trained for the Ironman competition, set up the Ironman as a fundraiser for children, worked on a curriculum to teach electrodiagnostic evaluation to residents, tutored medical students and still made the time to talk on the phone with friends, have a relaxed dinner with my family, and keep his dating life active. He somehow did all of this without spreading himself too thin. His reputation was so ingrained among the people who knew him that it was not uncommon to hear people say "Look, I'm no Jim McLean" when trying to imply that a specific task or number of tasks seemed potentially overwhelming.

Jim and Sally at an event (photo by Casey ODonnell).

I remember one day that he rang my doorbell and was soaking wet. I remarked that I didn't realize how torrentially it must've been raining. He corrected me, told me it was beautiful outside, the dripping wetness was actually his perspiration after riding his bike from four towns over. He then laid down on my new microfiber sofa which now has a Jim McLean body sized discoloration where he had lain. :)

I designed this cover for the last of many manuals/study guides created by Jim.It's hard to explain to people outside our field what it means to be prolificin this way. Most of us don't even read a full manual, let alone write more than one.

Jim Mclean displaying an impressive hematoma after a biking accident
(ie sliding at god knows how many mph on a metal grate bridge).

He was truly fearless. To call him a gentle soul would be a mischaracterization. He had a gentle aura which contrasted his aggressive physique and assertive ambition. We had very different backgrounds and aesthetics yet he was able to see beyond those things when dealing with me. In that way I was able to gain a strong friendship in my life.


Jim and I were very close for two years. This is the kind of closeness that one rarely finds in adulthood... it's the kind that requires many hours a week spent in the same room, with the same goals, and the same urgency to achieve them. People knew this. One friend joked when he saw our new house "which of these is Jim's bedroom?" I enjoy the guilty vice of taunting my friends to the point of aggravation. Jim never let this get to him. There was only one time that I was really able to get under his skin but I can't count it as a victory because we later found out that he was severely hypoglycemic at that moment.

Happy smiling Jim AFTER the hypoglycemia was sated bychocolatey goodness (yes, those are girlscouts cookies) BEFORE it he was going to unleash on methe wrath of his front headlock!

Right now I'm a little numb. It hit me very very hard when I heard of his passing but seconds later it was gone. His life was already packed with twice the experiences and accomplishments at the end of most people's lives. Despite this, there was so much more that Jim had left to give to the world. This is the definition of tragic. I'm really going to miss him.

.

Gautam Malhotra, MD

Kessler Grad