Inaugural Class of 1964

Hailing originally from Tehran, Iran, Dr. Alavi left home for boarding school in England in 1953, when he was just 14. Three years later, he relocated to Oneida, Ky., where he completed high school at Oneida Baptist Institute. Afterward, he received a B.S. of chemistry at Berea College in 1960, before joining the inaugural class. After decades of clinical practice in Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, and Iran Dr. Alavi settled in Virginia. 

Born in 1938 and raised in Paintsville, Ky., Dr. Belhasen was a family practice diplomate certified with the American Academy of Family Practice. He eagerly returned home at his first opportunity, opening a clinic there in 1966. He was also involved in local politics, having served from 1970-1976 on the Johnson County Board of Education, being the chairman at some point. 

Born in Harlan, Ky., in November 1937, Dr. Bennett traveled to New Orleans, La., after graduation where he undertook an internship and a residency in general surgery at the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans before returning to UK for a urology fellowship. Upon becoming an attending, he took a position at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, where he spent 32 working years. For 22 years, he was the chairman of his department. 

A native of New Hope, Pa., Dr. Bowling was one of 11 children of Raphael and Nancy Brown-Bowling, born on Aug. 11, 1938. Following medical school, which he recalled as full of “great friendships [and] comradery in [a] small but exciting class,” he went on to train further at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Dayton, Ohio. 

After medical school, Dr. Burchett was an intern at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Afterward, he returned to the University of Kentucky for a residency in urology, which he completed in 1972. When he completed his training, Dr. Burchett relocated to Rowan County, where he worked for the Cave Run Clinic (later Cave Run Orthopedics, now Bluegrass Orthopedics) alongside his classmate, Dr. Patrick Serey. 

Originally from Marshall, Okla., the president of the Class of 1964 earned a bachelor’s of agriculture at Oklahoma State University in 1956 before coming to the University of Kentucky for a master’s degree in 1959 and a PhD in 1960. He was one of only three in the Class of 1964 to graduate with distinction. After medical school, he moved on to Vanderbilt University for a residency in internal medicine; by 1966, he was a faculty member at Indiana University.  Dr. Christian is an associate dean emeritus and professor emeritus of IU, having been an American Board of Medical Genetics-certified geneticist

Dr. Dawson, originally from Versailles, Ky., was a 1960 graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he earned a degree in anatomy and physiology. After graduation, he went to the University of Tennessee for an internship before moving on to a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology back at UK. Today, Dr. Dawson is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and he is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association. 

Dr. Farley, born in Pikeville, Ky.,  in 1939, got his start at the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in human behavior in 1960. Following his medical training, Dr. Farley became an assistant professor of medicine at UK, becoming an assistant clinical professor by 1974. He was involved in the Faculty Senate throughout the 1970s and was named an honorary member of the Classes of 1971, 1972, and 1973 for his role in their training. 

A Brooklyn, N.Y. native, Dr. Gebrow was born January 19, 1937. He attended the University
of Kentucky, graduating in 1960 before joining the medical school. Before entering private practice, Dr. Gebrow served in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox. He began to work in private psychiatry practice in Lexington around 1966. While in Lexington, he examined an infamous patient: Harold McQueen, Jr., the first criminal to be executed in Kentucky after capital punishment’s reinstatement in 1976. 

Born in Ashland, Ky., Dr. Geist graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1960. In 1972, he joined the staff of Permanente Medical Group, which eventually launched him into a role as chief of surgery and physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente’s San Rafael Medical Center in San Rafael, Calif.; he remained in the roles for 18 years until his retirement and was known for his thyroid and parathyroid procedures. Dr. Geist was also an Army reservist for 33 years, retiring as a colonel and deputy commander.

Dr. Gibbs, a native of Rochester, N.Y., returned north after graduation. He completed his post-graduate training in family practice at the Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township, N.J. Afterward, he remained in Raritan Township for some time, having served on the local government’s Board of Health in the 1970s. 

Hailing from West Liberty, Ky., Dr. Gullett was one of the Class of 1964’s internal medicine diplomates. After training, he took an internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, then was a resident with the University of Tennessee Nashville’s program at St. Thomas Hospital (now Ascension Saint Thomas). Dr. Gullett has worked as a primary care physician in Clarksville, Tenn., since 1968, and is affiliated with Tennova Healthcare. 

A Louisville Ky., native, Dr. Hagan was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame before attending medical school. Following his studies, he completed a residency at the University of Louisville hospital, where he was chief surgical resident, and a residency in Toledo, Ohio, focused on plastic and reconstructive surgery. After residency, Dr. Hagan served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. Dr. Hagan returned to Louisville after discharge, where he operated a private practice for many years. 

Remembered by his classmates for his practical jokes, the former Navy pilot came to UK by way of the University of Louisville, where he had earned a degree in engineering. Following graduation, he interned at Chandler Hospital and remained closely involved with the University of Kentuck, organizing the College of Medicine’s first five-year reunion. By then he had signed on with the urology department at his alma mater. He had graduated in the same year as the University’s first kidney transplant, and by 1969 was performing them himself.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Rock Island, Ill., Dr. Kimball was a WWII naval veteran who served in the Pacific Theater. He was also a 1949 graduate of the University of Cincinnati. After graduating, Dr. Kimball took on an internship at UK, followed by a residency in anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. During the ‘70s he moved to Austin, Minn., and began to practice under the moniker Austin Anesthesia Services in 1984. In later life, Dr. Kimball returned to South Carolina. 

Raised in Southgate, Ky., Dr. Kreutzer was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s chemistry program in 1960, where he played both football and basketball. After receiving his degree from UK, Dr. Kreutzer put his training on hold and joined the Army; he had been a member of the Airborne Third Special Forces Group (colloquially called the Green Berets). 

Clarksville, Ind.-born Dr. MacDougall came to the University of Kentucky by way of the UK College of Pharmacy in Louisville. The school moved to Lexington from Louisville in 1957, bringing Dr. MacDougall, a 1960 graduate, along. Following military service at Valley Forge General Hospital (now closed ) in Phoenixville, Penn., where he worked as an anesthesiologist, he returned to UK as an assistant professor until 1972. 

A Florence, Ky., native, Dr. Markesbery entered adulthood with military service at Fort Shafter in Hawaii, followed by Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu–a rotation that, in his own words, was spent “[doing] absolutely nothing but [playing] sports and [lying] on the beach.” He returned to Kentucky in 1956, graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Kentucky in 1960. After medical school, he split his time between UK and at Colombia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, performing a mixed internship at the former and a residency in neurology at the latter. Dr. Markesbury received almost 30 years of continuous NIH grant support and produced over 400 publications. During his career, he became the first to describe what is now known as Finnish-Markesbery Disease, and helped pen one of the first studies to disprove the theory of toxic metal-related Alzheimer’s development. 

A resident of Lexington in his early life, Dr. Maxson had ties further north; he attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio, before attending the University of Kentucky for medical school, during which he was awarded twice (1962 and 1964) for grades in the top three percent of the class. After medical school, Dr. Maxson moved on to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he was a resident in internal medicine and cardiology. He then returned to Lexington to practice medicine for 47 years. In his free time, Dr. Maxson was an amateur radio enthusiast, using the call sign N4AR. 

A native of Paducah, Ky., Dr. McGowan arrived at the University of Kentucky by way of the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1960. After medical school, Dr. McGowan spent five years using his medical knowledge in the Navy, returning to his training in 1969 for a residency in psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, N.Y. 

Originally from Lexington, Dr. McMichael had studied at Union College in Barbourville, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1949 before relocating to New York City. She spent 10 years working for an advertising agency in New York before returning to Lexington for medical school. Among the oldest in UK’s inaugural class, she was both the first woman to enroll in the College of Medicine, and the first woman to receive a degree from it.  In her later years, she settled in unincorporated Turkey Creek to practice at Highlands Clinic (now ARH) near Prestonsburg, Ky. 

A native of Owensboro, Ky., Dr. Neel started his studies at the University of Kentucky, earning a Bachelor of Science in pre-pharmacy in 1960. Following his internship and residency in pediatrics at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, he ventured to Germany in 1967, spending three years as an Army pediatrician before returning stateside. Dr. Neel opened a solo pediatric practice in 1970, where he worked until 2015. In his free time, Dr. Neel enjoys flying; he is a private pilot with an instrument rating. 

Dr. Peveler, a lifelong resident of Louisville, Ky., began his schooling at Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University) in his hometown before arriving at the University of Kentucky in 1960. After training at UK, he moved on to an internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Dayton, Ohio (later Franciscan Medical Center followed by Elizabeth Place, now closed). Dr. Peveler splits his time between Louisville and Naples, Fla, where he also holds a state medical license. 

Dr. Serey, born and raised in Ashland, Ky., graduated from Villa Madonna College (now Thomas More University) before enrolling in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He continued his training with an internship and residency in surgery at New York Medical College, before returning to UK for a two-year orthopaedic residency. Much of Dr. Serey’s career was spent at the Cave Run Clinic (now Bluegrass Orthopedics) in Morehead, Ky. He specializes in pediatric orthopaedics and sports medicine. 

A native of Pineville, Ky., Dr. Slusher was born July 19, 1938. He graduated as Bell County High School’s 1956 valedictorian, having been a tri-athlete and a hand at the family cattle farm, before attending Harvard University on an academic scholarship. Following graduation, he completed a residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. There, Dr. Slusher found his calling in restorative ophthalmic care and became a faculty member at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. He practiced at Wake Forest for 38 years, serving as the chair of ophthalmology for 17 years and establishing the Wake Forest University Eye Center. 

Dr. Sullivan was born Oct. 13, 1932, in Stearns. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in literature and history with a minor in art in 1955, then an Master of Arts in history from Eastern Kentucky University before advancing to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he was a diplomate of family practice,  and concurrently earning a Bachelor of Science in both physics and chemistry. After training, Dr. Wallace and his family moved to Pueblo, Colo., where he would spend the rest of his life.  

Born in Memphis, Tenn. in 1929, Dr. Threlkeld graduated from the Shrine School for Handicapped Children (now known simply as the Shrine School). His undergraduate degree, a B.S. of chemistry, was awarded by Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) in 1951. Before seeking advanced training, he worked for the University of Tennessee School of Medicine’s Department of Bacteriology. After medical school, Dr. Threlkeld earned both a master’s and a doctorate at the University of Tennessee. He worked as a pathologist in the UT Memphis microbiology lab and was head of a lab for three years before illness forced him into early retirement. 

Born in 1927 in Kaunas, Lithuania, Dr. Treciokas and his family fled Soviet occupation and settled in the Chicago area in 1944. Dr. Treciokas studied for some time at Germany’s University of Tübingen, and completed his bachelor’s degree in bacteriology at the University of Illinois’ Navy Pier extension (a precursor to the University of Illinois Chicago) in 1951. He later received both a master's and doctoral degree in physiology from the University of Illinois before attending medical school at the University of Kentucky. He specialized in movement disorders, most notably Parkinson’s disease. 

Born in Lexington in 1937, Dr. Watson was exceptional from a young age. He graduated from Dunbar High School as valedictorian before being accepted to Howard University, where he found a love for biological sciences that spurred his desire to study medicine. Settling his family in Oakland, Calif., following a residency at UK, Dr. Watson began a private practice in obstetrics and gynecology, working for 40 years. Dr. Watson was the first Black man to attend the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and launched a University of Kentucky diversity scholarship in his and his wife’s name. 

A native of Covington, Ky., Dr. West attended the University of Kentucky for his undergraduate studies. Following graduation from the College of Medicine, he served in the United States Air Force, earning a promotion to captain in 1969 and serving as commander of Tuy Hoa AFB dispensary during the Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star for his service as a flight surgeon. In 1970, Dr. West and his family relocated to Gainesville, Fla., where he performed his delayed residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Florida. Dr. West and his wife moved to Highlands, NC, upon retirement, and he spent 21 years as the on-again, off-again, champion of the Highlands Falls Country Club’s golf course. 

Hailing from Prestonsburg, Ky., Dr. Wright earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology at Berea College in 1959 before attending the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. In 1964 he signed on with San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, a Department of Defense health education platform, for an internship in medical/surgical followed by two years of residency in anesthesiology at Wilford Hall USAF Hospital (now defunct) in San Antonio. Afterward, he departed for a research fellowship at the department of clinical psychology and anesthesiology at the University of Uppsula in Sweden. Dr. Wright is a member of the American Board of Anesthesiology, is a board-certified forensic examiner, and has been licensed in Kentucky, Florida, and California. 

Born in Lexington in 1937, Dr. Young earned a degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky in 1960. Following medical school, he took on a transitional year at the University of Tennessee before advancing to the region he’s remained since: Southern California. Following his 1965-1969 residency at the University of California Long Beach Medical Center, Dr. Young served a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.