John Sergent, MD, Combines Charismatic Leadership and Patient-centered Care

Another pivotal point for rheumatology as a subspecialty occurred earlier, while Dr. Sergent served on the ABIM’s Subspecialty Board on Rheumatology from 1982–1990 and as its chair from 1988–1990. At that time, committee members were charged with rewriting the board certification exam for rheumatology, which had not performed well. “We worked a lot harder than the average subcommittee,” recalls Dr. Sergent. Frank C. Arnett, MD, professor of internal medicine and pathology and laboratory medicine and the Elizabeth Bidgood Chair in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, was also serving with the ABIM at that time, and recalls that Dr. Sergent’s approach as committee chair was “always collegial. He’s very knowledgeable, very scholarly—and very practical. He is the epitome of a Southern gentleman. He also plays a wicked game of tennis … not that we had too much time to play.”

Epitome of the Vanderbilt Experience

Dr. Sergent has received numerous awards for teaching excellence—the most recent was an annual award permanently named, in 2007, the John S. Sergent Award for Excellence in Teaching. “In many ways, learning medicine is more of an apprenticeship than a lecture,” reflects Dr. Inman. Dr. Sergent’s appreciation of that element has strengthened the already-strong Vanderbilt ethos, often extolled by former students.

Dr. Vansant describes the Vanderbilt experience under Dr. Sergent’s tutelage: “They did not teach residents, students, and fellows by making them feel small and inadequate. Intimidation was never a part of the learning process under John Sergent. The relationship was one of mutual respect. But make no question about it: There was no place for excuses or acceptance of mediocrity. It was understood that you would work as hard and as long as it took to do what was best for your patient.”

J. Thomas John, MD, assistant professor of rheumatology and immunology at Vanderbilt, was Dr. Sergent’s first fellow. He returned to Vanderbilt after time in private practice, some of which was spent in Dr. Sergent’s private practice. “John is a charismatic soul,” he says. “He spreads his energies around—and he’s got a lot of them! The house staff at Vanderbilt is superb, and the depth of their character is a high reflection on him.”