Page 49 - Robeson Living Spring 2020

din’s years of service to the medical community. Dr. Hardin’s
son, Adam Hardin, said that while he and his siblings often
resented his father’s work and obligations, they grew to un-
derstand and respect their father’s commitment to his patients.

“We quickly developed an enormous amount of pride in him
and admired the impact he had on so many lives inside these
walls and up and down these halls,” Adam Hardin said. “It’s so
great to be here today and see so many familiar faces that our
dad loved and that we love as well. On behalf of me and my
three sisters, Alicia, Christie and Ashlee, we just want to thank
Joann [Anderson], Dr. Roberts, the entire Southeastern Medi-
cal Staff, and all you guys for taking time out of your busy
schedules to honor Dad.”

The portrait, a gift from the SeHealth Medical Staff, will hang
in the main corridor at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.

SeHealth VP of Medical Affairs Dr. Joe Roberts presents
Dr. Ben Hardin’s son, Adam Hardin, with a crystal tower
engraved with Dr. Hardin’s years of service to the medical
community.

Three of Dr. Hardin’s children, along with their spouses, pose with his portrait. From left, Patricia and Adam Hardin,
Christie and Spencer Brantley, and Alicia and Carlton Mansfield.

SeHealth unveils Dr. Ben Hardin portrait

The late Dr. Ben Hardin was remembered and honored recently an interventional cardiologist with Southeastern Health Heart
at the unveiling of a new portrait in his memory at Southeastern and Vascular. “He would say, ‘If you get to know the patient,
Regional Medical Center. Dr. Hardin passed away in January, they’ll tell you what’s wrong with them.’ He was a master of
at the age of 76. He first began practicing in Robeson County that. He would say to me, ‘When you see a patient, sit down.’
in 1980. …It was one of the things I’ve always taken with me. It’s like
magic. … I learned from Ben that when you get to know that
“This a tribute to a true icon of the Robeson County medical patient, you know when something’s not right.”
community,” said Dr. Joe Roberts, Southeastern Health’s vice
president of Medical Affairs. “Tonight we are here to honor the Luckey Welsh, former CEO of SeHealth, recalled Dr. Hardin’s
legacy that Ben Hardin left behind among his family, friends role as a trailblazer, as the first American Indian resident at
and colleagues. … This large crowd speaks volumes about what was then Fayetteville Area Health Education Center. He
what Ben meant to the community.” was also the first openly admitted American Indian to attend
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Med-
Several of Dr. Hardin’s friends took turns speaking, remember- icine.
ing him as an intellectual, a listener, and good doctor and an
avid hunter. Dr. Hardin’s sense of humor and work ethic were “He came back here to serve his people,” Welsh said. “That’s
also recalled. what he told me.”
SeHealth VP of Medical Affairs Dr. Joe Roberts unveils the portrait of Dr. Ben Hardin, joined by several active and retired
“It’s obvious Ben was a lot of things to a lot of people, espe- As well as unveiling the portrait, SeHealth also presented Dr. members of the Southeastern Health Medical Staff, from left, Dr. Charles Beasley, Dr. Sadanand Hegde, Dr. William Ro Bur-
cially the medical community,” said Dr. Matthew Cummings, Hardin’s children with a crystal tower engraved with Dr. Har- leson, Dr. Matthew Cummings, Dr. Gregory Locklear, Dr. Kenneth Locklear, and Physician Assistant Earl Cummings.

Robeson Living ~ Spring 2020 Robeson Living ~ Spring 2020 Page 49