Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH, FACPM, MPH

Growing up in a rural Kansas community, I frequently heard my elders lament the ardent scarcity of family doctors in the area. When challenged by friends and family during an increased paucity of medical care, a discussion was initiated by my mother. "You should be a doctor" was her sole comment. My mother's foresight was never questioned. I thank her for her encouragement, support, and pride.

In the early 1970s as a public health postdoctoral fellow at ucla, I assisted in developing their methadone clinic for heroin addicts. We became aware of a need for clinics throughout Los Angeles County. While administering care in the clinic, I realized that some nonaddict, severe pain patients attended the clinic. These patients didn't belong there, so I designed a special intractable pain and palliative care program in West Covina, California. This program's progress has been an opportunity to educate patients, doctors, pharmacies, and insurance companies.

As one goes through a long career, many mentors from different fields are special gifts. I have been grateful for so many. I list a few here.

Business: Hugh Moore, President,
Mark Four Companies
Medicine: Frank Frazier, MD,
US Public Health Service, Lexington, Kentucky
Achievement: Zig Ziglar,
Motivational Speake and Author
Public Relations: George Strachan,
Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce,
West Covina, California
Real Estate: Forest S. Tennant, Sr., President,
Jayhawk Realty, Co.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my mentoring and caring wife of 51 years who taught me the joys of a balanced life, love, and simple fun.

Actually, I have a parallel, second career as a real estate investor. While I was serving as a US Army Medical Officer overseas during the Vietnam War, I started sending money home to invest in Kansas real estate. My original intent was to prepare for retirement or a time I couldn't practice medicine. I've been blessed to have two avocations that I dearly love.

I have an innate need to be constantly physically and mentally active. I must always be pursuing goals and education.

In looking back over a long medical career of over 50 years, my basic achievement has simply been to develop better diagnostic and treatment tools for the setting I was in--be it military, sports, public health, addiction, primary care, or pain. I suspect the medical achievement, for which I'll be most remembered, will be the initiation of hormonal and neuroinflammatory treatments for severe, chronic pain problems.

English is my sole language. However, I intensely studied Latin while in college. A continuous abundance of writing projects both professional and for enjoyment creates an impetus to expand understanding and usage of both languages.

Book: The Bible
Film: The Thomas Crown Affair (Pierce Brosnan)
Song: Soft Summer Breeze by Eddie Hayward

In pain practice I would like to leave a legacy as one who sought to treat the underlying causes of severe, chronic and intractable pain rather than just throw symptomatic drugs at it. I especially hope to leave behind a solid understanding and treatment approach to adhesive arachnoiditis, which is often a horrible disease. In my local community of West Covina, California, I want to leave a legacy through the Tennant Foundation that supports philanthropic activities and some very special antique collections and museums. I want my legacy to be simple:

"Service Above Self.

In business, don't set big goals, but do a little something each day to improve your enterprise.

As an old-time and older physician, don't retire but give back part-time in a caring endeavor where you can pass on not only your medical experience but spirituality and life skills.