Hervy E. Averette, MD
1932 - 2005
Dr. Hervy E. Averette joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Miami in 1966. At that time the care of the gynecologic cancer patient in this country and in the world was provided in a very disorganized fashion. Women who succumbed to gynecologic cancers were taken care of by gynecologists, urologists, general surgeons, radiotherapists, medical oncologists and other specialists. Continuity of care was difficult to impossible to achieve. There were no training programs for physicians to obtain the expertise needed to provide complete and comprehensive care. It was the dream of Dr. Averette, Dr. John Mikuta from Philadelphia, Dr. Jim Nelson from Boston, Dr. John Lewis from New York, and others, to provide the gynecologic cancer patient with physicians who would have the expertise required to give the best possible care. They started programs in different sites of the United States that provided the training required to become a Gynecologic Oncologist. To accomplish this Dr. Averette went through difficult times. Gynecologic Oncology overlaps with many other specialties and in the early days of the subspecialty some turf wars were fierce. He fought hard for his beliefs and he led from conviction, and never made an adversary into an enemy. He was never mean-spirited. He stated his case in an eloquent manner and at the end of the day they always respected him. Nowadays we enjoy the fruits of his efforts, we work with other specialists in a cordial and professional environment to provide the cancer patient the best possible care.
At the University of Miami he created one of the top Gynecologic Oncology fellowship programs in the United States. The original faculty of Drs. Averette, Ford, Girtanner and Nordquist was second to none. Applicants for this fellowship come from the best residency programs. The Division of Gynecologic Oncology has always been a source of pride and prestige to the department, the medical school and the community. He trained 45 fellows that have moved on to different parts of this country and the world to treat cancer patients and to teach the subspecialty.
Dr. Averette was an excellent surgeon and he left a lasting impression on all of us who were fortunate to learn surgery from him. I learned more than surgical technique from him. I learned decency, I saw him treat indigent patients with the same concern as the most VIP. I learned kindness, I saw the concern and compassion he showed his patients. I learned courage, I saw him fight hard for what he believed. He spent many years in the limelight of being one of the most respected and admired Gynecologic Oncologists in the world. He got to the pinnacle of his specialty, was president of just about all the societies, and received countless awards of excellence and appreciation. He traveled the world as an invited speaker. This lifestyle can change a man, but not this man. All who met him remembered the same sincere, honest, upright and humble person. He never changed; he was always strong but gentle and simple.
So let us now say goodbye to Dr. Averette. He dreamed of things that had never been done in his specialty and he accomplished them. He enters into the history of gynecologic surgery with the courageous strokes of a confident and accomplished leader. He never gave up. In his mind, he envisioned a new way of treating women who suffered with cancer and countless women in the United States and the world receive appropriate care because of him. He made a difference, Gynecologic Oncology was different after him. Today, we promise him that his dream goes on; that what he worked so hard to build will continue to grow. That we will remain committed to providing excellent care to cancer patients, that we will continue to train fellows who can go to different parts of this country and the world and bring this expertise to patients. We promise him that we will reach out for new goals and ever greater achievements -- that is the way we shall commemorate him. He loved his division, his department, and his medical school. And he considered teaching his honor.
He was devoted to his family. He loved Barkley and he was so proud of Ellen and Virginia and his grandchildren. It was a privilege for me to have been his medical student, his resident, his fellow and his associate. Dr. Averette was my mentor; I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for him.
Submitted by Manuel A. Penalver, M.D.
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