If you ask Anthony Yonkers, M.D., how he would describe his 43 years in medicine, he would say “fun.”
Dr. Yonkers, UNMC professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, plans to retire on Dec. 31, after 43 years of service to UNMC, including serving as department chair for 25 years.
“When I was an undergraduate, we had the option of getting into medical school in three years. I thought that would be kind of nice. I applied, got in and from then on it’s been very fun, very rewarding.”
Friends and colleagues applaud Dr. Yonkers. See sidebar at right and “Comments” section below.
In his fourth year of medical school he decided ENT was for him.
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“You deal with all kinds of people of all ages and a lot of disease entities, from tonsils and adenoids to tumors, so you have a spectrum of surgery and medical treatment.”
After his residency he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base from 1968 to 1970. The Muskegon, Mich., native, planned to go back home after separating from the Air Force.
But he never made it back.
He started his career at UNMC in 1968 as a part-time volunteer faculty member — the same year the department was formed by Thomas Yarington, M.D. In 1970, he joined UNMC full-time.
“Tom Yarington was a very influential guy. I had offers to go other places but UNMC was an attractive place. It was fun training residents — being part of their education and seeing interesting cases. The private guys in town would always give us the more complicated cases.”
Dr. Yonkers also joined the Air Force Reserve, became a flight surgeon and retired in 1998 as a colonel.
One of the biggest rewards of his career has been training residents.
“Training residents is a stimulus to keep you up to date, fresh and on top of things,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is working with residents and watching them develop and be able to go anywhere.”
Dr. Yonkers’ long list of accomplishments and awards reflect his dedication and passion. He’s been at it longer than most of the physicians he graduated with from medical school.
“I was just back in Michigan and more than 90 percent of my class is retired. I guess it’s time for me too. It’s hard to believe.”
Dr. Yonkers will continue in various roles in the department, including educational and career mentorship, fundraising and participation in courses, seminars and grand rounds.
See below for comments about Dr. Yonkers from colleagues and friends.
Dr. Yonkers is one of the kindest friendliest, physicians I have ever known. He is NEVER in a bad mood. His great attitude carries over to anyone who comes in contact with him. Dr. Yonkers treats everyone with equal respect; whether you are a coworker or a patient, he gives 100% genuine concern and attention. Hope the medical students that worked under him learned and appreciated this trait, as well as his excellent surgical skills. He has a zest for life that is contagious. We will all miss him dearly.
Dr. Yonkers has made a career out of making otolaryngology fun. His spirit of enthusiasm and enjoyment of what he does is infectious. I wish him all the best as he transitions to emeritus.
Dr. Yonkers is a genuine person who would give anyone the last shirt off his back without thinking twice about it. He is an inspiration to all of us that youth and energy is not in age but attitude and willingness to just do it.
Dr. Yonkers has truly made my work experience a fun one. He is always smiling, telling jokes, and making people laugh. He is one of the most kind-hearted people I know and it has been a pleasure being able to work with him.
Young at heart, one of a kind, noble, knowledgeable, energetic, rascally, silly.
Tony is a great guy. He is a very dedicated and thoughtful Lion. He always gives of his time and money and ideas. He and Mary host our Christmas party every year at their home and our installation at their cabin at Beaver Lake in the summer. They are such wonderful giving hosts. My husband and I are proud to have known Tony all these years and call him a true friend. I know I can count on him for anything.
He was the most warm and personable physician on staff. Always patient, forgiving, and you felt confident operating with him because you felt like he had seen it all, and could fix anything. I will always remember my first day of ENT residency with him, when he let me do my first myringotomy tube. I still hear his one piece of advice every time I do an ear operation – ‘Everything you do under the microscope, do it in slow motion.’ His personal generosity never wavered. He opened his home and his personal life up to his residents on a regular basis. And that created a deep loyalty to him, like family, that I still feel to this day. And that you can see in his former residents that would visit who graduated 20 years ago.
It has been a privilege to have studied under Dr. Tony Yonkers, aka “Da Boss.” He was an awesome residency program director. Patient, incredible knowledgeable, fair and with a world class sense of humor. One year, he decided that in order to care for our professional voice patients, we needed a deeper understanding of how they train and their vernacular. He arranged for all the residents to take voice lessons from a UNO voice professor. We were all sprawled out on the floor of the auditorium learning how to control our diaphragms. We then went through a series of vocal drills and improved our singing on key. Fortunately we did not have a recital. While he received a considerable amount of grief from all of us for subjecting us to what we thought was unnecessary hazing…it actually served all of us well, when we saw opera and other professional vocalists and could speak their language. Yonkers was incredibly generous as a program director, taking residents and medical students out to lunch or dinner as a group when he could tell they were in need of some relief. He imprinted me in such a way that, I said to myself ‘if I ever become a program director, I want to be like him.’ As fate would have it, I did get to be a program director and did my best to pay it forward to the residents I was training. Tony has touched so many people whether patients, residents or friends throughout his incredibly long and productive career. We owe him a debt of gratitude and it is a pleasure to be able to honor him. Well done!
He was the first president of the Sunrise Lion's Club and in that capacity and through the years, he and his wife, Mary, were most generous in opening their homes for Lion's socials in the winter for Christmas and in the summer at Beaver Lake. Tony has a great sense of humor. Tony also was proud to be a member of the Knights of Malta. I know he was honored to be a member. He owned an airplane and kept up his flying status. He has a story or two of his flying adventures.
Congratulations to Tony for his excellent and dedicated service to Nebraska as a physician/surgeon/teacher at UNMC, and his dedicated service in the Air Force. I first met Tony in 1980 when we were both charter members of the Omaha Sunrise Lions Club. Tony was our first president and has kept our club rocking the last 43 years with puns, wit and generosity. His motto: “A chance to cut is a chance to cure” and I am one that he cut. Thanks Tony!
Dr. Tony Yonkers is an inspiration to everyone who has been blessed to encounter him. He is a modest man of great intelligence, a serving heart and is filled with kindness. I’m amazed how Tony will roll up his sleeves to serve his community. I've witnessed this for years as a fellow Lion member. Not only does Tony serve his community, but he's interested in helping anyone he knows. I've called on Tony twice over the years, with medical situations two friends were experiencing, and his response was immediate, caring and helpful on what to do and where to go. Beyond his dedication to his work, his community and his friends, it's been inspiring to see Tony with his family. His devotion and commitment to them is evident at every turn. Dr. Tony Yonkers is a living example of humanity at its best.
Dr. Yonkers is a cherished friend. My husband and I have had the privilege of doing some vacationing with him and his wife. It would be hard to find anyone as kind and generous as Dr. Yonkers. Thinking of others is just part of his being, always making certain that those around him are comfortable and having a good time. He is adventuresome, always looking to find new experiences to broaden his already vast knowledge base. During travels with him he has encouraged us to experience places or opportunities that have provided some great laughs and fun. We wish Dr. Yonkers the best in his retirement. His long tenure with UNMC has seen him be a kind and generous physician, the same as we have experienced as our friend. Selfishly, we are looking forward to more traveling opportunities with the Yonkers! We love you, Tony!
Tony and I have been friends for over 30 years beginning back when Tom Yarington was chief of otolaryngology at Nebraska and Tony was an assistant professor. For many years Tony would put on a superb winter Otolaryngology Update course, first at Keystone, Colorado and later up the road at another nearby resort whose name escapes me. I went to all of them and had a great time. I have searched my brain to find some event that could be used in a roast at Tony's retirement……I could not think of one! How perfect can you be??? When I retired in March of this year, former residents and fellows were fighting for time at the banquet to tell stories about me! My congratulations to Tony on a great career — Nebraska was so fortunate to have a physician and person like him.
Dr. Yonkers is one of the most kind, fun and caring doctors I have ever has the pleasure of working with. He will be very missed. I wish him all the best and happiness in his retirement.
Dr. Yonkers has served the University with great enthusiasm and dedication for so long. I will miss seeing his smiling face in the hallways. He always took the time to say hello and say "nice to see you".
Tony is one of the nicest, friendliest people on campus. I will miss seeing him in the halls.
Dr. Yonkers is a compassionate physician and a trusted friend and mentor. UNMC is a better institution thanks to his service and dedication and we are better people for knowing him.
It has been a great pleasure to work with Tony throughout my tenure at UNMC. He has served UNMC and our community well. He has helped inumerable students and residents to become excellent doctors.
Congratulations on your retirement, Tony. It's time to have fun in a more relaxed environment.
Here's all one needs to know about Dr. Yonkers — last week he was in the Nebraska Cafeteria selling coloring books for the Lions Club over the lunch hour. Wow, what a special guy! Enjoy the retirement, Tony!
Thank you so much for your wonderful career here at UNMC and for supporting us back when we started to get the sleep fellowship off the ground. You are truly and amazing person and very much appreciated. Have fun in retirement!! You deserve the best!!
Teri Barkoukis
I will definitely miss Tony's smile and humor during his cases in the operating suite. I have worked with him for uncountable years in the ORs at UNMC and found him to be the most caring, compassionate physician I have been associated with. He has trained countless residents to be competent specialists. I consider myself luckly to have worked with such a suberb ENT physician and instructor over all these years. I wish him the best in the future!
Barbara Hurlbert, M.D., anesthesiologist UNMC
Dr. Yonkers you are tremendously generous person, not only for your clinic, but your community as well. I will miss your lighthearted attitude and amazing smile! Enjoy your retirement, you will be truly missed! Dana' May
So proud of you, Dad! Laurie 🙂
Dr. Yonkers will be sorely missed. I loved working with him when I was in the float pool. When my mother in law was having jaw problems he was the doctor who correctly diagnosed her when others could not.
He is a wonderful doctor and equally wonderful human being.
Karen Merwald RN
I first met Dr Yonkers shorty after I was assigned to Offutt AFB in 1988. My outgoing otolaryngology provider told me Dr. Yonkers was a superior provider and great person. He said that he and the university were a great resource to draw upon for difficult cases. Tony always has a way to make people comfortable and instill confidence in the treatments he suggested. He has been a corner stone of the otolaryngology department at UNMC. His contributions to the advancement if our specialty has been without compare
His legacy here at UNMC will be long remembered.
Humanitarian is the first word that comes to mind to discribe Doctor Yonkers. I have worked for him for 25 years during that time he has received accolades & awards from his Peers but I have been privileged to witness his deep empathy & caring demeanor through patients eyes. He always gave 100% "yes" was the answer to this persons need to be seen. A kind word,maybe a little joke reassurance to someone who was afraid & not up to Par. He made everyone feel as though they were important to him. Those of us who worked for him feel lucky to have been a part of his ENT family.
Great teacher to me when I was a medical student. Very patient with students in the operating room.
Michael Stoltenberg, MD
Retired Medical Oncologist
Henry Ford Hospital Detroit
UNMC class of 1980