Richard M. Peters: Feb. 21, 1922 - Sep. 1, 2006

Richard Morse Peters was born in New Haven February 21, 1922, and he died in Palo Alto, California on September 1, 2006.  At Yale he was a varsity swimmer when that champion team was the foremost among colleges, and thereafter he earned his MD cum laude in 1945.  He trained in general and thoracic surgery at Washington University, St. Louis, under the tutelage of the much admired Evarts Graham. 

Richard Peters, or Dick as he was known to his friends, became Assistant Professor of Surgery and Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of North Carolina.  There he studied the effects of pulmonary mechanics and inspired gas concentration on airway resistance and distribution of blood flow to the lungs.  He also pioneered the first intensive care unit (ICU) for postoperative surgical patients in the United States.  Consistent with Dick’s social conscience, this ICU became the first desegregated ward of the North Carolina Memorial Hospital.  In addition, he initiated a unique post graduate curriculum in bioengineering.  In 1959, at the age of 37, he was promoted to Professor.

In 1969 Dick became Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering at the new University of California at San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and the founding Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.  He achieved wide recognition for his work at UCSD where he applied automated techniques to monitoring the respiratory and cardiac function of patients in the ICU.  Because of the originality and high quality of his work, it was supported by the NIH for over thirty years. 

Dick Peters was an outstanding educator, caring intensely about medical students, and especially about the quality of education offered to residents in Thoracic Surgery.  In 1980 he stimulated formation of an informal small group that addressed the issue of how to arrest the withering of general thoracic surgery.  That group became the Liaison Committee of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery (AATS); it offered recommendations concerning the organization of faculty, facilities, curriculum, and resident case load needed to maintain and to strengthen general thoracic surgery. The recommendations were supported by AATS President Donald Paulson in 1981 and formalized in 1984.  Dick Peters correctly wrote, “(T)he vigorous prodding of (this) vocal group of general thoracic surgeons" did in time initiate changes which provided a basis for renaissance in the subspecialty. Thanks in significant part to Dick Peters, general thoracic surgery is now again strong.

In his quiet way, Dick Peters was an effective activist.  In 1987 he presciently alerted the profession to a forthcoming crisis in recruitment to the specialty’s training programs.  He favored high quality education before starting thoracic surgery residency in order to allow the residency to focus on the specialty.  He foresaw the need to consider fewer prerequisite years in general surgery and shortening residencies in cardiothoracic surgery.  Before others, he recognized that “alternative paths” in cardiac and general thoracic surgery were needed with enrichment of each of the two subdivisions.  He warned of the harmful influence of medical student debt, and noted this among the factors which were driving top quality students from thoracic surgery. He perceived that the increasing length of cardiothoracic education was increasing “servitude” without compensatory increase in “quality”.  He insisted that lengthening of cardiothoracic training programs should be only to improve education and not to provide service.  He pleaded for us to care about such matters. 

When Dr. Peters retired from UCSD School of Medicine in 1989 he had published over two hundred and fifty articles and a truly classic book on respiratory mechanics. He had served as senior editor of five text books including one published in China, and had contributed numerous chapters to many books.  His editorial and committee duties were important and multiple.  He was frequently invited to lecture nationally and internationally, especially on respiratory mechanics, cardiac function, ICU computer monitoring, electronic health records, and appropriate use of intravenous fluids in acute care and trauma management. 

Dick Peters was a model of a socially responsible citizen.   Despite his consuming involvement in surgery, research, writing and teaching, he found time actively to promote racial desegregation, civil liberties and social justice.  He advocated universal health insurance for Americans.  He and his wife, Ann Peters, along with others on the Chapel Hill School Board, labored successfully to desegregate the public schools.  This became the first system in the South to be desegregated. 

Dick was a well rounded man who loved his family and was loyal and supportive to his friends and his students.  He enjoyed sailing and skiing.  He relaxed especially in later years by fly fishing for trout in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, and skiing at Mammoth and Deer Valley with close friends.  He was a wonderful human being and a superb colleague who will be remembered with warmth and deep appreciation.

John R. Benfield, MD
Hermes C. Grillo, MD

The authors appreciate having received included information that was provided by Barbara A. Peters, MD