The most enduring lessons in medicine are often taught not in lecture halls, but in the quiet moments when a physician chooses to honor the humanity of the person before them. For the Stambaugh family, the vision for this series began with one central hope: that future generations of physicians would understand and embrace the values that shaped part of Stambaugh’s life and career. “This series was born out of a desire on the part of his widow to influence students with the hope Dr. Stambaugh’s approach to practicing medicine would be passed down to future generations,” the family shared. “He was an advocate for the patient-physician relationship in clinical care and decision making and had deep concerns over the implications managed care brought to the equation.”  

Stambaugh, an ophthalmologist deeply respected in his community, was known as much for his personal warmth as for his clinical expertise. Patients routinely described him not only as a skilled physician but as someone who made them feel valued, understood and seen. “We constantly heard stories from others who had been under his care,” the family said. “It is our desire to steward this series in order to honor our parents’ mission to remember the patient is a person first, and it is what we humanly bring to the encounter that can make all the difference.”  

Since 1995, the Stambaugh Lecture has invited the School of Medicine community to engage with that mission in fresh and meaningful ways. Over the years, the series has hosted nationally renowned speakers, inspired panel discussions and created opportunities for learners, faculty and staff to reflect on the humane and benevolent dimensions of medical care.Participants routinely remark that what they hear influences not only how they interact with patients, but also how they collaborate with colleagues and navigate ethical challenges. In today’s rapidly evolving medical landscape, a lectureship centered on compassion and ethics signals something vital: that the School of Medicine elevates humanism to the same importance as research or clinical excellence and that empathy can, and should, be strengthened through intentional education. Students and trainees absorb culture from the cues around them, and the Stambaugh Lectureship reinforces that our institution is committed to cultivating healers, not technicians.  

For the family, watching the lecture bring national speakers and local learners together each year reinforces that their father’s mission still resonates deeply. “To know that advocating for compassion and ethics in medicine is a ‘mainstream’ issue, and not just a mantra of a local training program, can inspire each of us,” they shared. “It reminds us we are not alone in our desire to advocate for the patient.” Even if the full impact of the series cannot be measured, the Stambaugh family hopes each year sparks personal reflection and meaningful conversation. “Perhaps a particular anecdote or piece of data informs on a new level and prompts continuing dialogue on what it means to be human and in turn, how that impacts how one practices medicine, and impacts every individual they come in contact with, patient or otherwise,” the family said. 

The series also reflects the school’s broader commitment to fostering generosity and mission-driven engagement. Philanthropy grows when people feel connected and the Stambaugh Lecture Series aligns seamlessly with the school’s strategic priorities. By staying directly connected with the family to bring new voices each year, the school continues to spark ripple effects of giving, reminding the community that shared values can inspire shared action.  

At its core, the Stambaugh Lectureship endures because the heart of medicine has not changed. With technology advancing rapidly and health care systems growing more complex, the family believes the humanities remain essential to professional development. “At its core, medicine is a human-to-human endeavor, and we must intentionally nurture our humanity, protect it and advocate for it in order to become the human healers we are meant to be,” shared the family.  

As we look back on a year of impact across the School of Medicine, the Stambaugh Lectureship stands out not only for its longevity, but for its enduring purpose. It is a tradition built on the belief that medicine must never lose sight of compassion, dignity and the sacredness of caring for another person. Through the voices it brings to campus and the conversations it inspires, the Stambaugh family’s gift continues to shape how our learners, leaders and physicians understand their calling. And with each new generation that takes these lessons to heart, Dr. Stambaugh’s legacy of human-centered care grows stronger – one story, one lecture and one learner at a time.