Robert G. Dillard, M.D. published his book entitled My Life as a Neonatologist with Modern Memoirs in 2021. This Assisted Memoir took seven months from the day he first contacted us to the day books arrived on his doorstep. We asked Dr. Dillard to reflect on what the publication process was like for him, and what it has meant to share his book with others.
1. Neonatology is a medical specialty focused on the care of newborn infants. You began your 40-year practice in the field in the early 1970s, just as a new treatment was developed that revolutionized the management of babies with breathing problems. In the preface, you describe your memoir as “a personal history of those four decades,” and as “a recollection of my professional experiences over time.” What was your goal in writing a memoir focused solely on your work life, as opposed to one about your personal life, too?
Robert Dillard: My primary goal was to document the historical advances in neonatology. I was lucky enough to become a neonatologist and experienced in real time many of the developments in my specialty. For a variety of reasons, being a physician requires maintaining a distance between one’s personal and professional life; therefore, I made a conscious decision only to write about my professional life.
2. What was one of the most rewarding events of your career?
Robert Dillard: A new treatment of a condition called respiratory distress syndrome, the most life-threatening problem that premature infants developed, became prevalent in neonatal intensive care units while I was a general pediatrician in the U.S. Army. When I begin my first job as a neonatologist upon leaving the Army, I was overwhelmed by the survival of babies with this condition. They were being treated with a radically new approach called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Because of the success of the new treatment, the pediatric subspecialty of neonatology began to flourish. One of the greatest compliments I continue to receive is from parents who express their thanks for the healthcare I provided for their children. Because of that care, many of these parents have become grandparents.
3. In your book, you describe several people who inspired and mentored you by example, including a surgeon who was “the epitome of the compassionate physician,” and a faculty member who “combined clinical brilliance with caring” like no other. What potential role can a memoir play in mentorship—in guiding and teaching students?
Robert Dillard: The process of becoming a physician is a long and complex one. More than any other profession, substantial human interaction and the learning that comes from it are the cornerstones of the education of a doctor of medicine. A physician’s memoir can give the reader an introduction into the role that such interaction must play in any successful physician’s practice.
4. You donated copies of your memoir to Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where you taught first-year students in your retirement. What feedback have you received from those readers, or others?
Robert Dillard: I’ve not been involved in teaching medical students for a number of years and have, therefore, not received feedback from them. However, a former colleague of mine who works closely with the neonatology fellows at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine has decided to make my book required reading for first-year fellows so that they might have a better understanding of past challenges in the field of neonatology. Feedback from other readers has been positive. I was pleasantly surprised that my non-medical friends said that my book was easy to understand, and they were fascinated at the speed of progress in such a young specialty.
5. Yours was an Assisted Memoir, meaning you sent us your written manuscript, and we edited it at the level you wished, maintaining the authenticity of your voice. We then continued to work closely with you through the design and printing phases. What did you learn about yourself as a writer through this process? Did anything surprise you at any step of the way?
Robert Dillard: As a professor of pediatrics at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, I was expected to “publish or perish,” as they say. I have always enjoyed writing, and have been accused on more than one occasion of being a frustrated English teacher. I honestly can say that I didn’t learn anything more about myself, but I enjoyed immensely remembering my professional life. Professional medical writing is primarily objective and factual. Writing my memoir provided an opportunity to give my perspective on challenges and accomplishments in neonatology. I was able not only to give factual information, but also to share personal anecdotes both heartwarming and tragic. I believe this enables the reader to feel a personal connection to a profession that I cherish and believe has made a difference in the world.