Dino Nonas, M.D.

Thanks. Hello. Thank you, Hoa and Trân for inviting me here. It's an honor. I really don't know what I can add to all the eulogies and all the compliments you gave Dai. Dai really was a living idol for a lot of us, as a person and as a surgeon.

For the summary, Dai and I go back over 40 years when I first met him at Andrews Air force base at the hospital. He was my best surgeon, and I really kept track of him. Then when I got out of the Air Force and retired and when Alberts asked me if I'd set up the surgery department for Kaiser Permanente in Virginia, I said yes. I said I need some damn good surgeons with me, because one person can't carry the team. Dai, I knew he was getting out from his commitment to the Air Force. I think he was the first person I contacted and trying to hire him, and thank god he joined me.

Despite Hoa's impression when I interviewed him, and she said "Dai, he got a very stern, firm look. I don't know if you should work with him." I can't believe I ever had a stern face or hard look, but anyway. Thank God he came, and we set it up. Between us, we set up Arlington hospital, it's now Virginia Hospital Center.

When we first joined, the attending surgeons there didn't know how to treat us because we were like strangers. Why would any good surgeon join a medical group? I remember they come behind us and check on our record. Finally, I got a little ticked off and tactfully told them, "If you want to find something, just ask me and don't speak behind my back or any of my other doctors." After that, things calmed down. We had much less problem at Fairfax Hospital, which was good.

We all know his surgical skills were outstanding and you couldn't even compare him with anybody I know. He was a great colleague. He was naturally intelligent, but he kept reading and never stopped trying to get better. He took the re-certification exam because, at that time, every 10 years you had to re-certify through the American college of surgeons. He placed in the top 1% of all the applicants the year he took it, which didn't surprise me, but you never heard him say anything about it. He was very humble. It was just an attribute.

He was brilliant. We all know that. We shared this belief, and I think everybody explained it. The patient doesn't care how much you know until the patient knows you care about them. He was a living example of that, and made sure the patients knew he was caring for them. Like Wayne said, even if we signed off to each other, he made rounds on his own patients, sort of like me. We were old school. If I operated on you, I married you until you go home. That's the way we worked, and it was great working with him.

Dai was, as we already know, he was an excellent teacher. The resident students loved to have him around. The nurses adored him and respected him. He was voted the best teacher. I can't even count how many times the residents and students voted him as the best. I consider him a surgeon's surgeon. If I needed something done on me, he'd be number one on my list. Thank God I didn't need any of his expertise, so, good.

He's not only my surgical colleague, but he was a friend. He also introduced me to Vietnamese food, although I can't say I can eat the peppers like he could. I mean, he's in a class by himself with hot food. I told him, I'll eat the bland food. Anyway, it was a pleasure and honor to work with him. He's a great man. For many years was proud to be, I'm proud to be here today and honor his memory. My sympathy to the family and for your loss, and the Greek say, I'll say it in English, may his memory be eternal and life to all of you. Thank you.

- Dr. Dino Nonas