Ralph A. Dorner, M.D.'s Love of His Profession
Generated a Family of Physicians

As he celebrates his 95th birthday, Ralph A. (Bud) Dorner, M.D., the oldest living member of Polk County Medical Society, can take pride not only in his many years of service as a thoracic surgeon, but also in his having been the inspiration for a family of physicians now involving three generations.

Born in Burlington, Iowa on August 11, 1908, Bud graduated from Carthage College and four years later became the first physician in his family receiving his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1934. That same year he married Geneva (Gene) Bloom, also from Burlington. His surgical training was received at the University of Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Howard Beye, a man greatly admired by Dr. Dorner. After completing his training, he became the first chairman of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University.

When World War II broke out, Dr. Dorner volunteered to serve his country. Major Dorner was a medical officer in the European theatre and also in North Africa. After the war he said repeatedly, “I wouldn’t have missed the experience for a million dollars, but I wouldn’t go through it again for five.” Nonetheless, he made some lasting friendships, which have continued to the present. His friend and fellow thoracic surgeon, Professor J. Leigh (Jack) Collis from Birmingham, England passed away just this year, but through all the years since the war the two of them had maintained a close friendship visiting each other across the Atlantic on several occasions. The families have continued the friendship and, in fact, just this year, Professor Collis’ granddaughter, Jessica, spent the summer in Des Moines. For years after the war Dr. Dorner was prohibited by government dictum from discussing with anyone what was, for him, the single most frightening event of the war, the now admitted Tiger Maneuver. Allied ships off the coast of England attempting to train for the D-Day invasion were intercepted by German E boats carrying torpedoes that sank three out of the seven participating vessels. Over 900 servicemen were lost in this debacle. His recounting of the destruction of the ships around his and his fear that the ship on which he was standing would be the next to blow is truly terrifying. Recently several books and articles have been written about this bungled operation. Ask Dr. Dorner about the Tiger Maneuver. He now loves to discuss it!

In 1947 Gene and Bud moved to Des Moines, where he joined Dr. J.B. Synhorst in the practice of surgery. Dr. Dorner’s admiration and respect for Dr. Synhorst made them perfect partners affording them a long and happy association until Dr. Synhorst’s retirement. Dr. Dorner continued his distinguished career as a surgeon well into his 70’s. Following the cessation of his surgical career, he continued to enjoy his role as a physician by serving as an insurance consultant and from 1984-1997 as a reviewer for federal and state programs. He finally completely retired at the age of 89!

Dr. Dorner also served his community. He was the first and only physician to be the President of the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. In that capacity he did much to promote civic pride in Drake University, which to this day continues to acknowledge his great contributions. He is proud to be a Life Trustee of Drake.

Gene and Bud had two children, Carolyn Jeanne and Douglas Bloom Dorner. Experiencing daily their father’s love of his chosen profession, they both aspired to also be physicians. As early as 9th grade, Carolyn knew she wanted to be a physician, but when she wanted to write her career paper on medicine, her father referred her instead to a friend to talk about the career of laboratory technician. He just didn’t think his only daughter should be a doctor! Graduating from the University of Iowa after having spent her first two college years at Carleton College in Northfield, MN, Carolyn traveled east to receive an A.M.T. degree from Harvard and taught high school English. Finally after pressure from many sources, including from his beloved partner, Dr. Synhorst, Dr. Dorner reneged and allowed his daughter to attend medical school. She graduated, as he had, from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, interned in San Jose, California, where she met her husband, David. T. Sidney, M.D. Carolyn completed a year of general surgery residency at Highland General Hospital in Oakland. From there she went to Boston to start a residency in orthopedics at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Program. Pregnant by then with their first child, Scott, she had to quit the residency, but did attend the Harvard School of Public Health earning a M.P.H. degree. After the birth of their second child, Erika, David and Carolyn moved to Iowa City, where she returned to an orthopedic residency. When child number three, Matthew, was born, she switched programs to complete an anesthesia residency 13 days before their 4th child, Adam, was born. Since 1978 she has worked in private practice in Des Moines and Tennessee. In 1996-97 she returned to the University of Iowa for a clinical fellowship in anesthesia. Doing locum tenens anesthesia since 1997, she considers it “the best possible semi retirement job.”

Douglas graduated from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts and Harvard Medical School. Following his father’s example, he entered a surgical residency program at the University of California San Francisco under Dr. J. Englebert Dunphy. He spent the fourth year of his program in England during which time the second-generation Dorner-Collis friendship was cemented. Doug’s first child is the namesake of Professor Collis’ daughter Gillian. His second daughter is Hillary. After completing his residency in California, he returned to Iowa, where he completed a vascular fellowship at the University of Iowa. Doug joined his father in practice in 1974 as a vascular surgeon. In 1993 he became the director of medical education for Iowa Health – Des Moines (Methodist, Lutheran and Blank) and in 2000 he assumed the additional position of Program Director of the general surgery residency, a job for which he is well suited and which he has greatly enjoyed. He is married to Carole Villeneuve, a native of Montreal, whom he met on a trip to Antarctica.

Carolyn’s oldest son, Scott, like his uncle, graduated from Amherst College and, like his grandfather and his mother, graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Starting a residency in general surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, he decided that he would be better suited to radiology. Taking a year off to travel the world (pre 9/11 so a wonderful opportunity many will not again have with the same degree of freedom he experienced), he returned to Madison to begin his residency in radiology, a discipline he has found stimulating and enjoyable. He hopes ultimately to practice interventional radiology. His sister, Erika, after graduating from Carleton College, received her medical degree from the University of Minnesota. Just a generation later, far from trying to dissuade Erika, Dr. Dorner was her biggest supporter in her desire to become a physician. Erika tells everyone that “Grampa Bud” was her inspiration and was thrilled when he was able to attend her graduation ceremonies, where he informed all who would listen that “[he] was the class of ‘34”! Fortuitously matched for a residency in pediatrics in Madison, she joined her brother there where they purchased a house and are both in residency programs in their chosen fields. She hopes to pursue pediatric emergency medicine.

Doug’s older daughter, Gillian, after graduating from Princeton University, moved to Mexico where she taught SCUBA diving. Upon her return to the United States, she began translating for La Clinica, a Latina women’s health clinic in Des Moines, and quickly realized that her future lay in helping the underserved. She obtained a Masters in Public Health, and then decided that she wished a more hands on involvement in medical care. Currently in her final year at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, she has decided to specialize in Family Practice. She plans to continue caring for the medically underserved and hopes to eventually integrate both public health and medicine in the international arena

Thus, from one physician’s love of his profession have come 5 additional physicians. All Dr. Dorner’s children and grandchildren have heard him say, “I could have done something in which I might have worked less hours and possibly made more money, but I defy anyone to have had as much enjoyment as I experienced doing my job.” Is this not, indeed, someone to inspire future physicians?