Remembering

It's been 2 years since Dad passed away. In some ways it seems like just yesterday, in others it seems much longer. I wanted to share the memorial we wrote for him...

As a final tribute to Dr. Ramon B. Lang, we have created a look back at some highlights of his life from both a personal and business perspective…

DR. RAMON B. LANG:
AN EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP

Every business or field of endeavor has a front-runner, or leader. Some of these individuals become highly visible while others remain obscure. Their influence may only impact one individual or an entire population.

Dr, Ramon B. Lang, M.D. was one of these individuals, a leader, a visionary. His accomplishments, while sometimes obscure, have affected the lives or every person in the United States, at one time or another.

Dr. Lang was born in the small town of Waverly Georgia. As he used to joke, "If you blinked as you drive through the town, you'd miss it." Young Ramon Lang assumed leadership early in his life, his father died when Ramon was only seven. His mother soon moved the family to Jacksonville, Florida, where they remained for a year before moving to settle in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Soon after moving to Grand Rapids, Ramon took the initiative to find a job. While still in elementary school, Ramon began delivering newspapers for the now defunct Grand Rapids Herald, which meant delivering papers as early as four o'clock in the morning. Ramon retained the job with the Herald through high school.

As a youngster, Ramon progressed as an achiever and leader. He was an eager high school athlete, demonstrating his skill and determination as a member of the Ottawa Hills wrestling team. His hard work and dedication to be the best earned him All-State honors in his junior year. His hopes to repeat those accolades during his senior year were dashed when he broke his arm while practicing for the state tournament, rendering him a spectator for the remainder of the season.

As a young man, Ramon had a vision for his future based on a need to do something that would challenge him as an individual. As his vision grew in intensity and clarity, he realized that beyond the personal challenge, he had a deep desire to choose a profession that would help others. The strength and conviction of his internal energy drove him to refine what it was that he really wanted to do in life.

He set out on a journey without a map to study, no guidebooks to read and no pictures to view. He focused only on the endless possibilities that lay ahead of him in order to create and discover his future, his vision. Ray enrolled and graduated from Grand Rapids Junior College. Being a student and leader, Ray had several jobs while attending school. He worked at the General Motors factory in the plywood division, and was a stock boy and cashier at the A& P grocery store. In one instance, while working at the grocery store, Ray checked out a customer so rapidly that he literally burned up the cash register. When asked what management did concerning the occurrence, he stated, "They just bought me a new one".

Ray's vision was like a window into the world of tomorrow. While most people just talked about doing things they've never done before, Ray was already doing them. After graduation from GRJC, Ray enlisted in the army and was placed in the medical unit. During this time his youthful vision continued to become clarified. In his younger days, Ray had aspirations of becoming a bus driver. Instead, he was now driving trucks through narrow, perilous mountain roads in Europe during the height of World War II. As he maneuvered through the treacherous mountains, Ray learned how important leadership and competency were, along with life's requirement to make decisions under conditions of extreme uncertainty. These experiences while Ramon was in the army ignited the fires of leadership within him. His leadership prevailed. After serving three and one half years in the medical unit, his interest in medicine and saving lives led him to apply to the University of Michigan Medical School. Ray had decided to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue a career as a doctor.

Ray's tenacity for achievement became apparent after receiving a letter of rejection from the University of Michigan. The school cited the lack of credits for rejection. This was unacceptable to him, so he compiled all the pertinent information available and made a trip to Ann Arbor. Not only was he tenacious, he was persistent. Ramon waited an entire day in the same chair for his opportunity to discuss his position with the admissions dean. One week later, Ramon was enrolled in the medical school at U of M and subsequently graduated in 1951.

Dr. Lang served his four-year residency at Butterworth Hospital, providing him with a career exploration opportunity. Originally Ray's aspirations were in general surgery, however, he switched to the OB-GYN program. Why? Because a co-resident friend wanted to pursue general surgery and there were no openings, so Ray reconsidered and switched to the OB-GYN program. Little did Ray know at the time that his decision to convert to an OB-GYN physician would have far reaching effects, which would eventually lead him to assisting the less fortunate Medicade recipients of Kent county. Upon completing his residency, Dr. Lang went into private practice until he retired in 1988. Even after retiring from his private practice, Dr. Lang served as the clinical chief supervisor of OB-GYN for Spectrum Health where he would often take twelve and twenty-four hour shifts several times a week on the OB floor. By the time Ray retired completely from Spectrum Health in October of 2002, he had delivered over 11,000 new babies into the world!

Dr. Lang's professional background, besides being exemplary, was also diversified. His expertise and perpetual leadership involved him in many other endeavors including:

· Member of the Courtesy Staff at: Blodqett, St. Mary's, and Ferguson's Hospitals.

· Senior Deputy Medical Examiner of Kent County since 1968.

· Associate Professor at Michigan State University.(Instructing medical school students.)

· Adjunct Professor, Grand Valley State University, Biology.

· Red Cross, Emergency childbirth class instructor.

· Lieutenant, Enforcement Division - Kent County Traffic Squad.

Dr. Lang displayed leadership in every aspect of his life. His intelligence was unquestionably highly regarded and his experience was often sought out as an educator and role model. So many of Dr. Lang's traits overlap that it is difficult to dissect each characteristic. Dr. Lang's credentials, experience and achievements say it all. He was a man among men. His traits of understanding, kindness and compassion weren't limited to patients or peers.

Dr. Lang was the epitome of humanity; his personable character enriched everyone he came into contact with, as he exuded motivation and confidence while being a highly respected achiever and leader.

Even after many years as a medical examiner, Dr. Lang would still become emotional when the cadaver he had to work on was only a child.

Dr. Lang did not accept stagnation or complacency, from the time he challenged his rejection to medical school through his retirement, with equal commitment, Dr. Lang was always eager to undertake a new challenge.

Although Dr. Ramon Lang had always set his sights high, he was able to extol leadership in every area he became involved in. A prime example of this came in 1967 when he embarked on one of his most ambitious endeavors.

The Grand Rapids metropolitan area was growing, and with that growth came a larger population and more problems. The extent of travel and use of the automobile was expanding, along with the problems associated with additional traffic and vehicles. Car accidents were increasing, as were their severity. Dr. Lang, along with two colleagues, realized this increasing problem, and set out to address the situation.

Originally the doctors became immediately involved in accident scene first aid by responding to police dispatches. Eventually the physicians established a training program for police and emergency personnel, hence, EMT's, or Emergency Medical Technicians, evolved. The doctors initiated a program that trained students in every facet of emergency first aid. The technicians acquired skills ranging from bandaging a cut finger to applying intravenous fluids and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Their meager program evolved from begging, borrowing and stealing necessary equipment to adequately train the new personnel. The program grew in professionalism, intensity and popularity. No longer was this a "fly by night" first aid program. Public grants helped acquire sophisticated equipment and further the training, which eventually drew interest from all parts of the country. Soon EMT training programs were offered through accredited college programs nation wide. Locally, the programs have evolved and changed, but this first response on site emergency attention began with Dr. Lang's vision.

Even though expectations of leaders are abnormally high, it must be realized we are all human, capable of error.

While every leader like Dr. Lang faces many moments of truth, he was always on the lookout for teachable moments; those moments in time when people's consciousness could be influenced. These are the mistakes and failures that occur and we learn from them. As life continues we become involved in certain aspects that regardless of our endeavors do not meet expectations of others or ourselves. We do, however, face the reality that life is full of trials and tribulations. As with Dr. Lang, there were times of despair, and the need to make a noble struggle. He redefined a setback as a learning experience; "Learn from our mistakes, that's what life is all about" he would say.


Dr. Lang stressed these points to his students, as well as any individual ready and willing to encounter a fascinating conversation with this pioneer and leader.

Some of Dr. Lang's other achievements and personable traits are as follows:

· Founding member of the Thoracic Surgeons Association, 1967-1968.
· Chairman of the OB-GYN Department, Butterworth Hospital, mid 1960's

· Member of the Emergency Room Physicians, 1970 to present.

· Instrumental member in the initiation of the E-Unit program in Kent County.

· Medical Director for the E.M.T. training program in Kent County form 1967 through 1989
· Member of the American College of OB-GYN.

· Member of the Central Association of OB-GYN(this position is limited to only 500 members nationwide).

· Diplomat of the American Board of OB-GYN, from 1965 through present
· (Which is a board certification, residency program).

· Former Member, Board of Directors, Cherry Street Clinic.

· Married to wife Barbara Ann for 56 years.

· Three wonderful children; Judy, Patti, and Greg.

· All around great guy, award extended through this author.

Ramon Lang will be deeply missed and fondly remembered in love by his family, friends and the community he served tirelessly for so many years. May we all be so fortunate to learn and live by his example!