October 8, 2004

Chemical Engineers Are Doctors, Too

Dr. Jim Locklear, cardiologist with Wake Heart Associates, received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1974. (Photo: Mrs. Locklear)

Nothing is more comforting than having a familiar face in the hospital, especially when that face belongs to the doctor who is responsible for your recovery. Dr. Kenneth Beatty Jr., professor emeritus of chemical engineering, was fortunate recently to have two familiar faces by his hospital bed — faces of his former chemical engineering students.

When Beatty entered the hospital in April 2004, to his surprise, the cardiologist assigned to his case was a former student, Dr. Jimmy Locklear (CHE ’74) of Wake Heart Associates.

“When I walked into the room, I didn’t immediately recognize him,” said Locklear. “But when I asked him what he did for a living and he answered that he was a chemical engineering professor, I remembered him right away. I can’t remember exactly what class I had him for, but I remember that he was a good teacher.”

Locklear says that a chemical engineering degree fit well with his desire to become a cardiologist since the cardiovascular system is basically a pump with pipes that follows the laws of flow systems.

While recovering from that surgery, Beatty was confronted with another medical problem. He returned to the hospital and found another familiar face at his bedside, that of Dr. Leland Garrett of Wake Nephrology Associates — yet another former student.

“Dr. Beatty taught thermodynamics,” said Garrett (CHE ’71). “I recognized him immediately when I walked into the room.”

Garrett’s medical specialty followed research he had participated in during his years as a student in chemical engineering. “I remember writing a paper for Dr. Harold Hopfenburg on some artificial kidney research while I was at NC State,” he said.

As for Beatty, he has recovered fully thanks to the excellent care he received from his former students and his weekly exercise routine at the Rex Cardiac Rehab Center. Beatty said he was not surprised to find that his chemical engineering students had become physicians.

“I always told my students that they could do anything they wanted to do in life. I have had students who have become ministers, lawyers and doctors. I always told them it wasn’t a waste as long as they did what they wanted.”

— weston —

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