IN REMEMBRANCE
In Remembrance
JAMES MARSHALL MAHAN, MD
Sept. 1933– July 2018
“Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.”
M
y friend, Dr. James Marshall Mahan (Marshall),
was a 1961 graduate of the University of Louis-
ville (UofL) School of Medicine. He completed
an internship in the United States Navy in San
Diego, Calif. Following his internship, he had an
additional year of training at the Navy School of Aviation Medicine
and became a Flight Surgeon.
After returning from the service in 1965, Marshall completed an
obstetrics and gynecology residency at Louisville General Hospital
and had a successful career both in private practice and in academic
medicine. He practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 30 years, re-
tiring from his private practice in 1998. He then began his second
career teaching at the UofL School of Medicine, retiring in 2015.
Marshall and I, although not partners, worked together for many
years assisting each other in surgery. He was an excellent surgeon.
What I remember most was his ability to talk constantly but never
lose track of where he was in the procedure. It worked for him.
beyond medicine. Marshall played the drums and was a member
of The Doctors’ Band. He was a consummate collector of medical
articles which he downloaded to his PDA (personal data assistant).
He then imposed them on any unsuspecting colleague who exposed
his smart-phone or PDA.
He had a wonderful marriage to Leslie, and she was always there
for him. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren. When
his grandson, who played basketball for St. Xavier High School got
in the game, Marshall would give a detailed description of the game
and his grandson’s role in it, to anyone who would listen.
I miss Marshall greatly both as a colleague and as a friend. His
was a life well served.
- Donald Katz, MD
Over the years, Marshall held many medical leadership positions,
including Chairman of the Louisville Ob/Gyn Society, Chairman
of the Department of Ob/Gyn at Baptist Hospital and President
of the Transylvania Medical Society. Marshall was awarded the
“Outstanding Teaching Professor” by the Resident Class of 2005.
He wrote monthly articles on obstetrical and gynecological subjects
which appeared in Louisville Woman Magazine. His talents extended
Dr. Mahan was a GLMS member for 52 years.
MARCH 2019
11