Lynell Klassen, MD, Robert L. Grissom Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, has retired after 48 years in academic medicine, nine of those years as the chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. Since most physicians don’t just "retire," he is helping cover a clinical practice of a colleague in town who is dealing with a medical issue and will do projects for the division from time to time.
About Dr. Klassen
Dr. Klassen received his MD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He completed a clinical/research fellowship at the Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch of the National Institutes of Health with an emphasis on the pathophysiology and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Dr. Klassen then returned to the University of Iowa as chief resident, fellow-associate and assistant professor. He came to UNMC in 1982 and served as founder and chief of the UNMC Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, VA Chief of Rheumatology, vice chair of medicine and VA associate chief of staff/research. At UNMC, he initiated the experimental immunology laboratory, co-directed the bone marrow transplant program and founded the HIV Clinic. He was continuously funded from 1976-2019 by the NIH and/or the VA to perform basic and translational research in cellular and molecular immunology. He received a 10-year NIH Method to Extend Research In Time grant, awarded for innovative research in the pathophysiology of autoimmune reactions. Dr Klassen has served on and been chair of multiple NIH peer review panels evaluating both investigator initiated and institutional center grant research proposals. He also served as a member of the NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Advisory Council for four years. As an active American College of Rheumatology (ACR) member, Dr. Klassen served on five standing national committees, was president of the ACR Central Region and chaired the Educational Materials Committee. He was involved in curriculum development and writing for the ACR's "High Impact Rheumatology" course that was directed at primary care physicians. He was chair of the ACR Research and Education Foundation (REF) grants and awards committee and served on the executive committee of the REF board of directors. In addition, Dr. Klassen has been involved with national educational programs for the American College of Physicians (ACP) and served as its director of the Midwest Internal Medicine Board Review Course for more than 20 years. Dr. Klassen was named a master of the ACP in 2011 and a master of the ACR in 2016.
What interested you in going into medicine?
Wish I had a "noble"-sounding reason. I grew up on a farm — the only boy. I could have taken over the farm, but I wanted an inside job and I was good at school/science. When deciding whether to pursue a PhD or MD, I thought about my uncle who was a successful Kansas physician and my other three uncles who were dentists. I thought, ‘Ya know, Uncle Dan drives the nicest car with air conditioning — I’m going to be like him!"
What advice would you give a new resident?
It’s all about the patients — so concentrate on the patients. Being a physician is a great gig. You get to help people. Everything else is secondary.
We need to teach our future physicians what an honor and privilege it is to have this job. I understand being ticked off about things that happen in the system, but the air conditioning always works and we’re well compensated. We’re lucky.
What do you think about when you look back on your career in medicine?
It has been both an honor and a privilege to have spent 48 years in academic medicine. I have had one of the best jobs in the world:
- I have received a reasonable salary.
- I have been able to make independent decisions every day while working.
- I have been able to learn new things every day-often from my patients and from my partners.
- I have been part of a noble profession: helping others deal with the pain and disappointments of life.
I have never experienced "burn out." There were days when "the system" hacked me off, but the challenges and opportunities always outweighed the hassles.
What have you enjoyed about being at UNMC?
As a clinician/scientist, I have had the opportunity to try to understand why and how someone’s immune system goes haywire and alters the way their body functions. This is much more fun than just looking up the list of symptoms that define a disease and then looking up another list of potential treatment approaches.
One of the joys of working at UNMC has been that most of my collaborators and associates have become close and faithful friends. It is unusual to be in a situation where your partners really do look after your wellbeing and you do not have to watch your back because they are doing that for you. One of the real fun things of being at UNMC was that I was given the opportunity to take part in many "firsts:" the first bone marrow transplant program, the first HIV clinic, the first rheumatology/immunology program, the first experimental immunology lab, the first combination therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Being part of a team that does something "first" is usually fun…especially if it’s successful!
When you reflect on your career, what stands out?
I am proud and honored to have been part of the "pioneers" who built an academic internal medicine department that received recognition from other nationally known academic centers. This all started when Mike Sorrell, MD, became chair and recruited a bunch of young kids with "fire in the belly" (his words). James Armitage, MD, came from the University of Iowa at the same time I did, when the faculty numbered around 20. All of us were too young to know we could not succeed, and so we sometimes did!
What have patients told you that made you feel valued?
The most affirming comments that some of my patients said as we discussed transitioning their care to my partners were:
- But are they really going to take care of me?
- Will they take my problems seriously?
- Can I tell them my jokes?
My answer was that unfortunately, every one of my partners is smarter, nicer and better-looking than I am.
Thoughts on the pandemic?
I have been saddened to see most of organized medicine play polarizing political games, often in the name of "the science." There has been a real inability to look objectively at data and discuss alternative interpretations. I fear the failure to really use the "scientific method" to understand this new infectious illness will hurt the credibility of our professions for many years.
How would you like to be remembered?
I hope I can be remembered as someone who cared about others: be they patients, co-workers, those I supervised or those I tried to teach.
How are you going to fill your extra time?
- I am working on the "To Do List" that my wife has accumulated over 53 years.
- Jo (my wife) and I are taking online college courses. And I always get a higher test score than she does!
- We hope to visit and enjoy our 12 grandkids more: they’re scattered around the country.
- I will do some academic projects that my boss, Jim O’Dell, MD, assigns.
Dr. Klassen is a true legend and I was honored to have worked with him for almost 10 years. I would sit in my office and listen to him, often late in the day, on the phone with patients – the true care, concern and compassion he has for them is unmatched in my view. He will take on any problem, not only rheumatology issues, anything. That's how smart he is. And how committed he is to medicine. He set the bar high for us all. I am so blessed to call him my good friend. Thank you Lyn, for al you've done and continue to do, for your patients, all of the people you continue to teach and your colleagues. Now Jo and the family finally have your undivided attention. I am so happy for you all. Mitch and I wish you well.
Dr Klassen, thank you for the kind words and support over the past 20 years. I enjoyed our "hallway meetings" best wishes in your retirement.
Congratulations, Lynn! Well said.
Hal
I have had the honor of working with Dr. Klassen from the beginning. He is an amazing doctor and researcher, but even more importantly, an amazing human being!
Congratulations Lynn, and thanks for your exemplary contributions to UNMC and academic medicine over almost half a century. Enjoy your retirement.
Congratulations Lynn. A well deserved downsizing of an outstanding career. One of these days, I'll think about doing t he same. Irv
Back in 2018, the College of Medicine Alumni awarded Dr. Klassen an Honorary Alumnus Award from the College of Medicine. Dr. Klassen was one of the most gracious individuals I'd ever worked with at UNMC and it was clear that the honor not only meant a lot to him but was very well-deserved. We wish you all the best Dr. Klassen, as you change roles and have the opportunity to spend more time with your family. Enjoy!
Dr. Klassen has been my mentor, colleague, collaborator, "family physician", confidant, advisor, etc. But, mostly he has been a good friend. Always there, happy to help, and genuinely a kind and caring person. Looking back on my career, I was extremely lucky when Dr. Klassen recruited me to stay in Nebraska and come work with him first at the VA and then at UNMC. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a mentor/friend like Dr. Klassen who was with me every step of the way. We did well together and great part of it was due to you. However, I am not quite ready to totally give him back to Jo and the family and am very happy you are going to be "around" for a while longer. Congratulations Lyn.
Dr. Klassen is the reason I transferred from UNMC Physicians to UNMC Internal Medicine. I will be forever grateful for his leadership. No matter how busy he was, he would always ask how you were doing and about your family. He is truly an amazing person. Congratulations, Dr. Klassen!
Congratulations, Dr Klassen ! Your kindness & wisdom shared is greatly appreciated.
It was always fun talking to Dr. Klassen. He always spoke his mind. There was no holding back. Plus, he invariably made me laugh. What a talent! Thanks for all your contributions, Lyn. You truly made a difference.
Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Klassen. You taught me so many lessons – about rheumatology for sure, but also about life and the best way to care for patients and actually practice medicine. And you always made me (and others) laugh! Thank you for all of your contributions!
Appreciate our conversations on astrophysics, immunology, and life in academia. Never stop learning, Lynn!
Dr Klassen, It was such a wonderful learning opportunity to be your nurse for the last 5 years. I can honestly say that I learned something each and every day, whether about medicine, politics, or something on Netflix. I am really going to miss working with you on a regular basis and the fun we always had each clinic. You will always have a chair in the Nurse's Office to come vent or if hiding from work you are putting off to do until later.
Congratulations, Lyn! You, Jim Armitage, and Mike brought a culture of excellence to your UNMC Department, whether through research, teaching, or management, that brought distinction and opportunities. UNMC is indebted to Iowa for fostering your fine career. I'm pleased that you will not completely retire. But do let Jo beat you sometimes on online courses!
John Benson
Lyn, I've enjoyed working with you in many different settings. Like your patients, I will miss your acumen in tough cases, as I often brought you, and your very caring approach. Your sense of humor has always been a little wry and never dull, spicing up a number of meetings. You have always been a great teacher, as well, at the bedside as well as in a classroom. Overall, you were part of a group who understood what an academic medical center should be, and after you came, set the bar to establish UNMC as one. You made a difference! Congratulations on your retirement!
Dr. Klassen,
My mother was Dr. Judy Butler, she admired and respected you deeply. You took such great time and care in trying to help her. Thank you…