Finding Fulfillment in the Land of Enchantment (photo by Barry Staver)

  By R. Philip Eaton, MD

When I was a young man, my parents went to Iran as medical missionaries for the Presbyterian Church to find fulfillment for their lives. In many ways, the life that Olga and I have experienced in New Mexico has been equally fulfilling for us.

When we came here, we expected this to be a brief stop on the way to other places and things. However, it quickly became apparent that New Mexico and UNM could provide unusual opportunities for our professional and personal lives.

R. Philip Eaton, MD at the 2005 Cowboys for Cancer event in Las Cruces (photo credit - Barry Staver)

Last July, Eaton retired as Executive Vice President for Health Sciences after 38 years at UNM. On May 6, the UNM Health Sciences Center and the community will celebrate Eaton’s contributions to the university, the state of New Mexico and the advancement of medicine.

In 1968, there were only a handful of endocrinologists in the state. I recognized that one of the many ways I could make a difference here was by initiating a training program for endocrinologists in New Mexico, where none had previously existed.

Another key professional opportunity for me came in the form of radioimmunoassays. This novel technology for measuring hormones such as insulin, estrogen, and cortisol in the blood was just taking off. Working with the UNMH lab director, I was able to establish this capability for the first time in New Mexico. As a result, we were able to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetes, adrenal failure and estrogen failure.

Olga’s professional career as staff and ultimately director of the UNM Student Health Service was a wonderful opportunity for her to serve the students at UNM. It also provided us both with a window into the younger generation—which is such a critical perspective for all of us as we age—to keep us in touch with changes in our culture.

New Mexico provided us with many opportunities to grow professionally, but it also offered a wonderful environment for raising a family. Living and learning in a culturally diverse, multilingual community has greatly enhanced our lives. For a man who was raised in Michigan in the 1940s, the New Mexico experience has truly opened up an entirely new world for me—and my family.

For our sons, having a second language has clearly had an impact on their professional careers and their personal lives. They too benefited from their relationships with UNM. All three received a meaningful part of their professional educations at UNM, which has served them extraordinarily well in their adult lives.

One of the highlights of my 38-year career at UNM was a collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories to develop the insulin pump with a goal of creating a bionic pancreas for patients with diabetes. Our work led to the first human implantation of a programmable insulin pump in 1982 and set in motion the current efforts in developing a non-invasive glucose sensor. This work with Ries Robinson and InLight Solutions led to my early interest in building the UNM HSC Biotechnology Corridor—a biomedical/biotechnology industry in New Mexico. With more than 30 companies, including five start-ups, I believe this project has become one of my most significant contributions.

Through all of our experiences in New Mexico, the most meaningful aspect has been our relationships with people. We have been so fortunate to be surrounded by extraordinary people.

Although my role at the UNM HSC has changed, my dedication to this institution and this state—both of which have meant so much to me and to my family—remains strong. I am excited about the future and am honored to continue to play an important part in improving the health and quality of life for the people of this state.


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