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Dr. Pradip Swain is being remembered for his care of his patients and his love of teaching.
Swain, 82, formerly of Hollidaysburg, passed away May 21. He was born in Bhadrak, Orissa, India.
For 35 years, he served the community as the Chief Emergency Trauma Surgeon and president of the medical staff at Bon Secours Hospital.
"Dr. Swain was a staunch patient advocate and was a caring and compassionate caregiver. He was also a skilled ER leader. He always was explaining why he was doing what he was doing," said Mike Corso, interim president, UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford, who met Swain in 1994 while working as an administrative assistant.
"Dr. Swain was very talented and caring. He was very kind with individuals. His caring attitude in the emergency center was important," said C. David Kimmel, former director of marketing and communications at Mercy Hospital, then Bon Secours.
Robin de Koning, who first worked with Swain as an emergency room nurse in 1986, remembered the doctor as being very caring and compassionate.
"I was 22 when I started in the emergency room, he taught me a lot over the years," de Koning said. "He was a teacher. ...He loved to teach and mentor paramedic students. He put some great medics in our community."
"Dr. Swain was an excellent ER physician who cared for his patients and staff. He enjoyed teaching medical staff and students and was spoken of very highly by other medical professionals," said Christopher Ickes, a registered nurse at UPMC Altoona.
Retired physician and colleague J. Grant Hormell called Swain a "gentleman's gentleman" in his role as emergency physician and director.
"I've seen him handle some difficult situations calmly, he was able to bring family members together. He was very well respected; during his time here, he was someone everyone looked up to," Hormell said.
Swain played a key role in the growth of the emergency department at Mercy/Bon Secours.
"He definitely was instrumental in making sure we grew and provided services. He wanted to make sure people got through as quickly as possible. He worked well with people to make that happen. He was always here when needed,"
Kimmel said.
Swain was also an advocate for the hospital's poison center.
"It was one of his projects to make sure it continued, he made sure it would be funded," Kimmel said.
He promoted health, safety and healing through teaching at local colleges, speaking engagements and writing columns in the Mirror and other prominent publications.
"He did a lot in the community, teaching classes and doing community outreach at nursing homes and schools or teaching the paramedics, he was always teaching and available if anyone had questions. He was always educating people about things like bike safety and wearing helmets and seat belts," de Koning said.
"He had an ability to write, he put words together in such a way that made the reader want to maintain interest. He wrote in both medical jargon and common laity. He could have written several books. He was very creative, had a sense of humor and a dry wit," Hormell said.
Swain was a leader in the medical community.
"Dr. Swain was president of the medical staff at Mercy/Bon Secours and was a driving force during the transition from Mercy Regional Health System to Bon Secours-Holy Family. He was a good leader and a kind soul," Corso said.
After 35 years in Hollidaysburg, the Swains moved to Falls Church, Va., to live near their children and grandchildren.
A celebration of Swain's life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Va.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.