What makes the state-of-the-art care at the Seavey Clinic so exceptional? It is delivered by clinicians and staff who strive for dedicated service, strong work ethic, and faithful commitment—the values of the Greatest Generation, as modeled by Paul W. Seavey.
Today those deep values are amplified by Emory Healthcare, the region's most comprehensive academic health system, with more than 2,800 doctors and 250 locations, including 11 hospitals. Because these physicians are also researchers and educators at Emory, they take part in valuable clinical trials and help develop new and better ways to prevent and treat disease.
That means patients at Emory Healthcare and the Seavey Clinic get treatments years before anyone else. As active faculty members at Emory University’s School of Medicine, Seavey clinicians also teach the next generation of doctors.
An impressive proof point for the Seavey Clinic: Many doctors sought Dr. Seavey—and seek the Seavey clinicians today—for their own primary care.
After serving in World War II, Dr. Seavey (1926-2004) used the GI Bill to attend Emory College and Emory School of Medicine. His devotion to Emory went way beyond framed diplomas. During his residency, he lived in a closet-like room at Emory Hospital and later married an Emory nurse.
He was known for his starched white coat, white hair, and confident manner. He strove to
be accessible to his patients all the time, responding quickly to their concerns. He believed that no one could care for the whole person better than the general internist, who by definition is in charge of every aspect of a patient's health.
With patients ranging from former President Jimmy Carter—who threw a surprise birthday party for him—to Emory trustees and everyday Atlantans, Dr. Seavey was driven by intense curiosity.
"He was a listener who loved stories," says his daughter Cheryl Seavey Murphy, who like her sister Susan trained as an Emory nurse. "From Georgia farmers to international executives, he loved their stories. People opened up to him, and his bottom line was that the rest of their health may be related to their stories. That's why he would take one and a half hours for an initial workup. His overarching theme was 'what matters in life is people.' "
Because of the demands of managed care, internists like Dr. Seavey often miss out on research and scholarship opportunities. He advocated for more academic resources and promotions for them.
That’s happening today through the Seavey Endowment, funded by grateful patients, including the Rollins family. Four generations have benefited from care starting with Dr. Seavey treating John Rollins, and their shared values of the Greatest Generation.
“They both loved rags-to-riches stories, that if you had intuition and grit and hard work, you could achieve your dream, and Emory offered that possibility,” his daughter says. “Whether you succeed or fail, you just keep going.”
"Dr. Seavey epitomized the essence of the Emory physician," said Amy Rollins Kreisler, whose grandfather O. Wayne Rollins was a Seavey patient and whose family foundation has generously supported the clinic. "That is what we hope will be instilled in the doctors who are training here."
