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Retirement?WHAT RETIREMENT?By Juan PedrazaFOR DAVID ANTONENKO, MD, PhD,former chair of surgery at the UNDSchool of Medicine and HealthSciences, “retirement” is defined by acalendar that’s still full of patientappointments, resident mentoring, andheading up a sophisticated surgerysimulation lab.“I work two days a week at AltruHospital (Grand Forks), I teach residentssome surgery basics, and I’m involvedin the surgical simulation lab, which I setup at Altru,” said Antonenko, an Edson,Alberta, native who officially retiredearlier this year after 21 years at UND.He’s also writing a textbook chapter.Antonenko, whose dad was a coalminer, grew up in a fossil-fuel-rich areathat’s seen energy economy ups anddowns familiar to North Dakota.“I paid my way through collegeand medical school at the University ofAlberta at Edmonton, working in the oilfields,” on the rigs, in gas plants, and intrucking, he said. “I entered medicalschool when I was 20 after completingtwo years of college, and I graduatedfrom medical school two weeks beforemy twenty-fourth birthday.”“After I did my residency, beginningthe third year after I graduated frommedical school, I did a PhD in12 NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Holiday 2010
experimental surgery,” Antonenko said.He was inspired by the family physicianswho back then did appendectomies,hernias, and other minor surgery.“I also discovered early that it wasa lot of fun to work with patients,residents, and students, so I developeda real passion for teaching medicine,”Antonenko said. “Teaching is anintegral part of medicine, even if you’renot in a classroom in front of students.You’re teaching when you’recounseling patients or talking withnurses about a recommended therapy,or when you’re writing for a textbook.”On his way to faculty status,Antonenko got a Trauma Critical CareFellowship at Wayne State University,where he later joined the staff asdirector of surgical critical care units.When he put all that together as afaculty member at UND, Antonenkodeveloped a keen sense of the primaryfunctions of a medical school.“First, it’s to conduct medicalresearch,” said Antonenko, who, inaddition to his clinical practice insurgery, has PhD research credentials.“Second, it’s to educate medicalstudents to become physicians and trainthese physicians in residency programs.And third, it’s to educate and prepareallied health professionals.”“It’s also a function of a goodmedical school—an engaged medicalschool—to involve and educate thepeople of the state as to the value of theschool,” Antonenko said. “For example,most people know that about half of thestate’s physicians are graduates or havehad some part of their medicaleducation at UND. But we have toeducate people as to what the medicalschool actually does.”And that includes service to the state.“My feeling is that the UND Schoolof Medicine and Health Sciences servesthe physicians and other health careprofessionals in the state, and we shouldbe trying all possible ways to help themparticularly in the rural environment,”he said. “Part of our mission is to supportthem because we rely so much onvoluntary teaching. For example, in ourdepartment, surgery, more than 90percent of the teaching of third- andfourth-year medical students is done byworking physicians throughout the statewho volunteer their time to teach.”Caring for patients, Antonenkoobserved, requires a team approach.“If you’re a physician, you can’twork without nurses, without physicaland occupational therapists, withoutpharmacists and lab techs,” Antonenkosaid.At his retirement reception earlierthis year, Antonenko was recognizedfor his 21 years of teaching andleadership. He practiced critical caremedicine and general surgery for AltruHealth System in Grand Forks, wherehe was director of Surgery Critical Careand director of Trauma Services.Colleagues from around the regionjoined UND Vice President for HealthAffairs and SMHS Dean Dr. JoshuaWynne in paying tribute toAntonenko’s storied career.“He contributed to the education ofa generation of medical students andsurgical residents,” said Wynne.Dr. Robert Sticca, professor, currentchair and program director of theDepartment of Surgery, notedAntonenko’s national influence on theprogress of surgery. Dr. Mark Siegel,medical director of Surgical Services atAltru Health System, said Antonenkowas vital in the establishment of AltruHospital as a Level-II trauma center.“He always has the care of the surgicalpatient in mind,” said Siegel.“Dr. Antonenko manifested threequalities: vision, tenacity, andleadership,” said Dr. Mark Jensen, chiefof surgery for the VA Hospital in Fargo.“He provided exemplary service andsupport for our veterans, and heprovided years of guidance and wisdomfor our surgical faculty.”Ultimately, it’s all about a careerthinking about and working for the nextgeneration.“By stimulating the desire to learn,you help the student and ultimately thepatient,” said Antonenko in thanking hiscolleagues at the retirement ceremony.“Teaching surgery has been my life.”David R. AntonenkoNORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Holiday 2010 13
Page 1 and 2: 2009-2010 Donor IssueJudy DeMersStu
Page 3 and 4: 1014181216FEATURESJudy DeMers—Stu
Page 5 and 6: • Research funding continues togr
Page 7 and 8: New assistant deans named at UND Sc
Page 9 and 10: McHugo named director ofPhysician A
Page 11: in going through medical school and
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Page 17 and 18: Cell Biology; Biochemistry and Mole
Page 19 and 20: After earning his master’s, Hart
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Page 27 and 28: ALUMNI NOTES’10s ’00sJudy Ander
Page 29 and 30: ALUMNI NOTESStan Sateren, BS Med
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Page 33 and 34: IN MEMORIAMMarilyn J. Thibeault, BS
Page 35 and 36: PARTING SHOTSOn Saturday, October 2

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