Page 64 - The Early Life and Times of Bob Card

Move to Boston for Hematology Fellowship

e moved to Boston for a two-year hematology fellowship at the New England Medical Centre beginning on July
W1, 1968. Finding suitable housing and adjusting to urban life presented early challenges. For the first 6 months
we lived in an apartment in Chestnut Hill which related to city of Boston schools. Eventually, we re-settled in suburban
Needham, which provided stability, a better environment for Sharon and Michael, and a strong sense of community. We
even survived a 36 inch snow fall that kept Sharon’s school closed for almost two weeks in February 1969.

I commuted by train from Needham to Boston, navigating the challenges of urban life, including concerns about safety
near the hospital. These experiences highlighted the complexities of working in a major metropolitan hospital during the
late 1960s.

My research fellowship once again focused on iron deficiency, this time under the mentorship of Lou Weintraub. Our
fellowship group was diverse, with members from various countries, cities and perspectives. Peter Levine, Bob Phylicky,
and Harry Meilke, among others, remained friends for years. We enjoyed a mix of camaraderie and spirited debates about
societal and political issues, making the experience enriching on multiple levels. The chief of service, Bill Crosby, hosted
an annual dinner at a major hematology conference for previous fellows that continued for many years.

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