Audio clip
Merve Pregulman
When Dr. Molly Seal began teaching in 1978 at Baroness Erlanger, in the medical school that is now the UT College of Medicine-Chattanooga, nobody got paid for their classroom time.
"We were all volunteer faculty," said Dr. Seal, an ophthalmologist. "It was community service work to help train new doctors like someone had trained us."
Dr. Seal, the first female ophthalmologist in Chattanooga, and Dr. Cauley Hayes, UTCOMC professor and founder of the Hayes Hand Center, will be honored Jan. 30 by the Baroness Erlanger Foundation for their distinguished careers and commitment to excellence in medicine.
Additionally, the foundation will present its first community service recognition to businessman and philanthropist Merv Pregulman.
Dr. Molly Seal
Dr. Seal, a board-certified ophthalmologist with Seal, Lawrence and Nicola, said she felt called to her profession after watching her younger sister cope with vision problems.
She received her medical degree from University of Texas, Southwestern, in Dallas, then completed her internship and residency at the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga in 1969. She was the seventh physician to complete the UTCOMC ophthalmology residency.
"Deciding on a career specialty was one of the hardest career decisions I made," she said. "At that time, most women who went into medicine were either pediatricians or OBGYNs.
"I like to say I chose opthalmology on 'logic.' I wanted to take care of men and women, all ages and members of families, but still be able to have a family of my own. Ophthalmology allowed me to do that."
She joined the practice of Dr. Ira Long in 1969, where she remained until launching her own practice in 1972, she said.
Dr. Seal currently serves as assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at UTCOMC.
Dr. Cauley Hayes
Dr. Hayes received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University, completed a surgical internship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, then returned to Vanderbilt to complete a general surgery residency. He did additional studies in plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery at New York University.
Dr. Hayes has been a faculty member of UTCOMC since 1976. He currently serves as professor of plastic surgery and director of research.
He has been an active member of Erlanger's medical staff since 1970, holding numerous positions ranging from Chief of Surgery to chairman of the Trauma Committee.
He holds membership in more than a dozen medical organizations and is board-certified in plastic surgery and surgery of the hand.
Dr. Hayes founded the Hayes Hand Center and Chattanooga Hand Rehabilitation Center and was director of The Plastic Surgery Group for nearly 40 years.
Dr. Hayes said in a news release that Erlanger has always been the preferred choice of the Hayes Hand Center and Plastic Surgery Group.
"It was always important for us to be involved with a facility that would never turn anyone away, as well as a teaching hospital," said the surgeon.
Merv Pregulman
Businessman, philanthropist and ardent University of Michigan Wolverine fan, Mr. Pregulman is the foundation's first "Community Honoree."
Mr. Pregulman was an all-American football player for the Wolverines, played in the NFL and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
When his playing days were over, he began a business career, serving as president and chief executive officer of Siskin Steel & Supply Co.
He has served on numerous boards of directors, among them SunTrust Bank, University of Chattanooga Foundation, United Jewish Appeal, National Campaign Policy Board and Stadium Corp.
Mr. Pregulman has been particularly active in community service efforts designed to improve health care, receiving awards from the Tennessee Medical Association and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society for his efforts.
He served as chairman of the Siskin Memorial Foundation. He played a leading role in the building of Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation as well as the development of Siskin Children's Institute, according to an Erlanger news release.
He is a past chairman and current member of the board of directors for Siskin Children's Institute. He was instrumental in the establishment of Siskin Children's Institute -T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital Center for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, which opened in August 2009.
With the opening of that clinic and the addition of its diagnostician, Dr. Regina Gargus, he said "children in our area with developmental disabilities can be fully diagnosed so they can be properly treated."
In 1997, he and his wife, Helen, were recipients of Chattanooga's annual National Philanthropy Day Award for their community service since moving to this city in 1957.
If You Go
What: Distinguished Physicians' Brunch
When: 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30
Where: The Chattanoogan
Reservation deadline: Monday
Tickets: $60 per person
For more information: 778-6600 or 778-8705
Susan Palmer Pierce is a reporter and columnist in the Life department. She began her journalism career as a summer employee 1972 for the News Free Press, typing bridal announcements and photo captions. She became a full-time employee in 1980, working her way up to feature writer, then special sections editor, then Lifestyle editor in 1995 until the merge of the NFP and Times in 1999. She was honored with the 2007 Chattanooga Woman of ...
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