John “Mickey” Nardo, MD, an adjunct faculty member in our department for forty years, died on February 19. Born December 3, 1941 in Chattanooga, TN, he was the rare physician who excelled in patient care, medical education, and research. Trained first in medical school and internal medicine at the University of Tennessee, and following fellowship at NIH in Immunology & Rheumatology, he served in the military in the late sixties-early seventies. There he became fascinated with the life of the mind, and came to Emory to do his psychiatry residency. This was followed by psychoanalytic training, for which he commuted to the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training & Research in NYC, then the sponsoring Institute for the Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute (EUPI). After finishing his psychiatry residency, he assumed the position of Medical Director for the Psychiatric Emergency Room at Grady (1977-1979), then Director of Residency Training for the Emory University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry (1978-1984), and subsequently as Director of Medical Student Education for the department (1984-1986). Following completion of his psychoanalytic training in 1984, he became an indispensable teacher, supervisor, and pillar of the Emory psychiatric and psychoanalytic communities. His teaching accomplishments were recognized by three departmental awards: Best Basic Science Professor (1984-1986), Chairman’s Teaching Award (1986), and Best Supervisor (1991-1992). He was also a much sought after clinician in private practice. He was known to be able to translate complicated clinical concepts into language understandable to students and patients alike. He retired in 2003 from formal teaching and private practice, but remained active as a clinical supervisor, psychiatric scholar, and psychiatrist volunteer. For example, he volunteered as a psychiatrist at two local clinics in Jasper, GA, and became Board Vice Chair at the Willow Creek Substance Abuse Treatment Program in Ellijay, GA. He became interested in researching the overuse of polypharmacy, co-authoring in 2015 an article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ): “Restoring Study 329: efficacy and harms of paroxetine and imipramine in treatment of major depression in adolescence.” This article remains in the top 5% of all of the research articles scored by Altmetrics, even over a year after it was published (scoring 1352). He also was a co-author on a follow-up paper, published in 2016, that again raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of these medications with this population during the continuation phase of treatment (Noury et al., 2016). He was a prolific blogger about psychoanalytic and mental health issues (http://1boringoldman.com), contributing his wisdom and scholarly work to the community at large. In January 2017, Emory School of Medicine promoted him to the rank of Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences in recognition of his devoted service and major contributions.
Memory submitted by Athena Nawar
When did you meet Mickey?
1981
Where did you meet him?
Emory
Memory of Mickey
I first was introduced to Mickey as Dr. Nardo when he swept into the classroom of our medical school’s introduction to psychiatry class. Our class had been a mocking, troublesome one and the original instructor had suddenly quit. We sat sullenly and suspiciously. Mickey began to speak in his natural, evocative style and won over a classroom of defensive, hurt students.
Many of us chose to become psychiatrists that day and others gained a better respect for the discipline.
Many years later I was privileged to have Mickey as a teacher in the analytic school and even more blessed to work with him for a couple of years in the same private practice setting. I was able to spend some time just chatting with him on lunch and coffee breaks, gaining tidbits of knowledge and wisdom and sharing some common experiences from work and life. His ability to truly listen was a gift I hold dear.
He will remain a part of my heart and hopefully, of my work.
My warmest thoughts to Sharon, Abby, Caitlin and Christian,
Athena
Memory submitted by Kathy Shands
When did you meet Mickey?
1982
Where did you meet him?
At Emory Psychiatry
Memory of Mickey
I met Mickey around 1982, when I was a resident in Psychiatry at Emory. I had less contact with him than some of the other residents, because I was training in Child Psychiatry, so my memories of Mickey in the years from 1982-1986 are a little hazy, but he was always the guru in the background.
In 1986, as I was trying to figure out where my career should go, Gail approached me to ask if I would like to go into practice with her and Mickey and Andy Hurayt. I could not believe I was being given such an incredible opportunity, and I jumped at the chance. We built an office building at Lenox Pointe, with invaluable architectural help from Sharon, and moved in during October of that year. For 18 years, until Mickey retired in 2004, Gail, Mickey, and I (Andy soon headed off to the coast) were partners in a very successful private practice. The fact that it was very successful can be attributed in large part to Mickey, who had trained, it seemed, about half of the mental health practitioners in Atlanta. Thanks to him, we had an amazing referral base.
More than specific memories (although there are a few of those as well), I have a general sense of Mickey as the “eminence grise” of our practice. He was always there, usually in his office, seeing patients, but reliably emerging at lunchtime to sit in our group room to chat, tell stories, do crossword puzzles (in ink), play computer games, rescue our computers from various offspring (who couldn’t keep their hands off them) and to provide invaluable informal supervision. His advice was always helpful, and he was gratifyingly appreciative of my occasional supervision of him in return. Occasionally, he would be found lying on the floor of the group room because of severe back pain but would always manage to get up and go back to work.
In the early years, before he gave up alcohol, we would have TGIF parties weekly at the office. One specific memory is on one of those TGIF nights my husband, Joe, was planning to join us but called to say he had slipped on our outdoor stairs and had a deep gash in his knee. Mickey, who had not forgotten his earlier life as a “real” doctor, mobilized all of us to move the party to our house, where Mickey supervised Gail’s husband as he sutured Joe’s knee at the kitchen table.
Another specific memory is around Mickey’s retirement. His much-loved dog had died shortly before that, and Gail and I decided to give him a dog as a retirement gift. We found one we really liked at the ASPCA and asked Sharon to approve it. Sharon thought our choice was too active and immediately picked Annie, who was calm, affectionate, and the right size for her to walk. I’ll never forget how surprised and happy Mickey was when we arrived in Jasper with Annie.
The last time I saw Mickey – before he went in to the hospital -was at Gail’s house shortly after Christmas. He looked ill, and in fact was, but he didn’t let that stop him from sitting at the table, entertaining a group of us with stories about his life, including many memories of his time in England.
I loved Mickey and always will, and I can’t believe he is not just up the road in Jasper, being wise and funny and impressively productive in his retirement. I will sorely miss him.
Memory submitted by Susan Shelton
When did you meet Mickey?
1981
Where did you meet him?
I met Mickey (Dr.Nardo then) when I was in med school
Memory of Mickey
I first knew him as a teacher, the most unique and inspiring teacher I had in med school. He later became my analyst and as I’m sure hundreds have already said he saved my life and changed my life in ways I can’t begin to describe. Actually I could describe them, but it would be way too personal. He saved my relationship with my then boyfriend, now husband and encouraged me to do practical things like get a fifteen year mortgage rather than a thirty year one. Most of all he was a role model for what a psychiatrist should be. He is indelibly a part of the fabric of who I am.
Memory submitted by Maureen Klesmer
Where did you meet him?
Atlanta
Memory of Mickey
Dr. Nardo was a good man, a brilliant psychiatrist, and someone who earned the respect of his vast network of colleagues, friends and others who knew him.
He made a difference in countless lives in countless ways, including mine. I will remember him with deep respect and a debt of gratitude.
I extend my deepest sympathies to Dr. Nardo’s family, friends, colleagues, and others who mourn his death. He has left behind a lasting legacy and may his memory be for a blessing.
Memory submitted by Tim
When did you meet Mickey?
1983
Where did you meet him?
Atlanta, His office at GMHI
Memory of Mickey
There are few days that rest in my mind as perfect, but the one sailing with Mickey is one of them. I am one of those poor individuals who love sailing but have trouble with wind speed, wind direction, angle of the sail, which rope (line??) goes where. What my father used to call “common sense”. So it was with some anxiety that I set off with Mickey. Miracle of miracles, all the lines were color-coded, so instead of “haul up the mizzenmast, let go the poop line” it was “OK, pull on the red line, let go of the blue one. Duck and cross over to the other side” My first and only time enjoying sailing without it being spoiled by a cloud of worry over what I was supposed to do. Mickey could always put people at ease.
There are many ways I admired and loved him. Other memories come rolling back, but this is the one I remember the best.
