New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

Amy's 6th graduation and best one of all!

Monday 06/27/2005

No matter how much we accomplish as individuals in our lives, it is without a doubt, the accomplishments of our children that gives us the most satisfaction.

For me, one of my lifetimes most emotional and rewarding moments, was attending my daughter's, Amy Martel, graduation from MD residency last Friday night. And to top it off, she was selected as Family Practice Medicine Intern of the Year by the NH Association of Family Practice doctors. Although it came as a wonderful surprise, it really doesn't surprise me.

Since this is her 6th graduation I should tell you the other 5. And why it really is not surprising that she has excelled in her chosen profession. Kindergarten started it all. And where she had her first graduation ceremony. She was "practicing" playing school from age three on. In the first few years she declared that she wanted to be a baby sitter. Certainly a noble profession in my mind. But that changed before her next graduation.

By age ten she had started saying she wanted to be a doctor. A baby doctor. Shortly after her 8th grade graduation she really moved in that direction. She became a Candy Striper at the Concord hospital by age 13 or 14. So when the doctor, who was presenting the award Friday night, mentioned that the recipient was know by nearly every staff member at Concord Hospital, it was a dead give-away that it would be Amy. Nurses and staff she now works with remember her from her Candy Striper days. She apparently made an early impression!

After high school graduation where she went on to St. Anslems College " because several of the graduates from there have made it into medical school". On track on her destiny with a very strong desire like few people I have ever met. Of coarse she excelled there as well! Plus joined the Epsom Fire Department as an EMT and worked summers ....at the Concord Hospital. And graduated for the 4th time.

Then on to medical school at Dartmouth. When she called me at the office to announce she had made it into Dartmouth, I actually broke down emotionally in my chair. I had to just exited the building for a half hour walk of catching my breath. You see her goal was just not her goal, but the goal of her extended family, and friends, for a long time. We were all on this ride, though she did all the work. She went on to Dartmouth for another four years and a grand graduation three years ago, which put her into residency at Concord Hospital. This year marks the 24th year she has been in school, if you count kindergarten, of her 28 years of life.

She will be joining a practice in Concord where she will practice medicine for a long, long time to come. She has already delivered lots of babies, helped save lives and helped those whose lives were at an end. A whole life of making a difference in so many lives of others lays before her.

I am so proud of her and thankful that she is my daughter. Amy will be a great physician! She is the kind of doctor that you would trust, and have absolute confidence in, to ALWAYS do her very best whether at the birth of your granddaughter, or death of your grandmother. For soft spoken words of encouragement, at just the right moment, or a gentle touch, from the heart, will always be powerful medicine.

I love you Amy....Doctor Martel