Dr. Richard C. “Dick” Dillihunt, a long-time and ardent supporter of universal health care and of Maine AllCare, passed away in May at age 88. Dr. Dillihunt was born in Hartford, Connecticut, received his medical degree from the University of Vermont Medical School, and did his surgical residency at Maine Medical Center. He then practiced general and vascular surgery in Portland for 30-plus years, and was part of the surgical team that did Maine’s first kidney transplant in 1971.
“Dick’s support for a universal health care system was one of the many ways he expressed his compassion and empathy for his patients — an essential characteristic of a truly great physician.”
In addition to being a renowned physician, surgeon, and teacher, he was a prolific writer who penned many opinion pieces, articles, and letters to the editor in support of universal health care and made his voice heard in other ways. He got involved with Physicians for a National Health Program, and with Maine AllCare, out of a desire to help people get the care they needed and to make our health care system more just.
“The concern of our nation regarding health care for all is reaching a crescendo, and we need to address this,” he wrote in a 2017 opinion piece. “The resounding will of the people should be recognized and acted upon.”
At least as far back as 2001, when the Portland City Council considered a resolution for universal health care, he showed up for public meetings, hearings before the Maine Legislature, and other events. “His testimonies at legislative hearings on health care bills were events in themselves,” notes retired physician Dan Bryant, “including the time he threw money on the floor of the hearing room to make his point about waste and cost.”
Below are some remembrances of Dr. Dillihunt from Maine AllCare and beyond. We are thankful for his dedication and activism and all the ways he contributed to a saner and more compassionate health care system and encouraged and inspired so many others to do the same. You can learn more about Dr. Dillihunt and his life and work in the Portland Press Herald obituary.
“I first met Dick Dillihunt shortly after I moved to Maine, over 20 years ago. Dick, in addition to being a distinguished and respected head of vascular surgery at Maine Medical Center was, like me, a proud and ardent supporter of the creation of a system of universal health care in Maine and the United States, despite the predictable disapproval of many of his colleagues.
He expressed his support in many essays, often published as opinion pieces in magazines and newspapers. One of Dick’s favorite achievements was his role in arranging for the controversial appearance of Dr. Danielle Martin, a Canadian family doctor and proponent of the Canadian health care system, at Maine Medical Center Surgical Grand Rounds. I think he enjoyed watching some of his colleagues on the medical staff, but especially in the executive suite, squirm a little.
Dick’s support for a universal health care system was one of the many ways he expressed his compassion and empathy for his patients—an essential characteristic of a truly great physician. That will be one of his many legacies.”
–Phil Caper, MD, Maine AllCare co-founder
“Dick was a wonderful physician and colleague. He was an excellent surgeon and teacher and a role model for the quality of equanimity.
He was also a strong and consistent supporter of Medicare For All throughout his career. He understood the value that universal health care could bring to all of us.”
–Jane Pringle, MD, Maine legislator
“Dick became a valued friend and colleague, especially after we worked together to convince the Maine Medical Association to re-survey physicians in 2008 to assess the support within the Maine physician community for single-payer health care.”
–Julie Keller Pease, MD, Maine AllCare co-founder and board member
“Dick Dillihunt fixed things: blocked arteries, failing kidneys, burst appendixes. He tried his best to fix the health care system in which he worked, too, but that effort came to an end in May, when he died at age 88. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he received his medical degree from the University of Vermont Medical School, did army service in Missouri, a surgical residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, and then practiced general and vascular surgery in Portland for thirty-plus years, starting with Maine’s first kidney transplant in 1971. His career was a whirlwind of patient care, teaching, articles on everything from vascular procedures to hypoparathyroidism to motorcycle safety (available in the Congressional Record) and drug addiction. He still found time to raise a family of six with his wife, Jeannette, garden (orchids), cook (including lunches for colleagues residing in nursing homes), golf, regale colleagues with stories of exploding outhouses and the like, and almost catch some very large fish at his beloved Turner Pond.
Dick may have first started thinking about fixing our health care system back when he spent some time at a Northern Quebec fishing camp and experienced the Canadian system. That led to his involvement with Physicians for a National Health Program and Maine AllCare and his many letters to the editor and opinion pieces for Maine papers and the Maine Medical Association. His testimonies at legislative hearings on health care bills were events in themselves, including the time he threw money on the floor of the hearing room to make his point about waste and cost.
Despite his many talents, and his mighty efforts, Dick wasn’t able to fix the health care system the way he fixed so many patients. Perhaps his greatest legacy in that regard is the many colleagues he inspired to join the movement.
Inspire some angels for us, Dick. We need all the help we can get.”
–Dan Bryant, MD, Maine AllCare volunteer