In Memoriam

On August 3, 2019, the EEG community lost a dear friend and mentor. Dr. Robert G. Ford started working in the department of Neurology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham in 1969, following a residency in EEG with Donald Klass, M.D., at the Mayo Clinic. In addition to being a skilled practitioner of EEG and EMG, he served as a beloved instructor for neurology residents and neurodiagnostic technologists. Technologists who were active in the 1980s were particularly familiar with Dr. Ford, especially in his role as an ABRET Board member for eight years. Riki Rager, R. EEG T., FASET, relates the following fond memory: “At the ABRET oral exams, I was an associate examiner and he was the Record Review section leader. He was famous for popping in and out of the exam rooms and listening to the candidates and throwing a question or two in himself. He came into our room and started asking questions. When the candidate couldn’t answer he asked me the same question. I admit I was terrified, but I told him that he couldn’t ask me questions because I had already passed my exams. Truth be told, I didn’t know the answer. We had a good laugh about it later and he told me that what I said was exactly right.” Others have quoted him as saying that sometimes the correct answer to a question is “I don’t know.” His quiet, gentle humor always made him a joy to work with, even in the stress of an ABRET oral exam. Dr. Ford’s story telling times were actually very educational and his listeners always learned something every time they were around him.

Dorothy Gaiter, MHA, R. EEG T., CNCT, R.NCS.T., FASET, first met Dr. Robert Ford as a student in the field. She recalls while rotating through several hospitals for clinicals, his name would often be mentioned and when she first encountered Dr. Ford, she recalls being impressed by how he truly enjoyed assisting students in learning EEG. Years later, Dorothy and Dr. Ford’s daughter, Carrie, became extremely active advocating for the first state licensure for neurodiagnostic technologists. She recalls that “Dr. Ford gave his full support by going down to the State Legislative offices with techs and meeting with lobbyists representing other professions that opposed our Bill, as well as spending time over the phone with other legislative representatives. Additionally, he secured a sponsor to represent us in the Senate. Dr. Robert Ford and other neurologists were very supportive, and he worked with us until we ended the battle for licensure in 2007.” Dorothy echoes Riki’s memories of Dr. Ford’s inspirational teaching style. She recalls a record review study in which Dr. Ford asked, “Who discovered Lambda?” Everyone stood there in silence because no one knew. After what seemed like forever, he said, “Evans, 1959” and to this day, even though it’s been over 35 years ago, she says she will never forget … “Evans, 1959.”

My last experience with Dr. Ford was dinner with a group of examiners at the end of an exhausting ABRET exam weekend. We were making our dinner selections. I was tempted by the shrimp but concerned that that the amount was too much. I can still hear that calm, Alabama accent advising me that “You can never have too much boiled (one syllable) shrimp (two syllables).” Thank you, Dr. Ford, for your memorable part in the evolution of ABRET and our field of technology. You will always live in the hearts of many.

– Janet Ghigo, R. EEG/EP T., FASET

Originally published in:

The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 59: 192–193.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21646821.2019.1689783