Nicholas H. Putnam, MD – 50th Reunion Essay

Nicholas H. Putnam, MD

2231 Ranch View Terrace

Encinitas, CA 92024

dr.nick@drnickputnam.com

760-815-5347

Child(ren): Ariane Price (1974); Carolyn Travis (1980)

Grandchild(ren): Roan Price (2006); Noah Travis (2011); Will Travis (2013)

Education: UCLA School of Medicine, MD (1973)

Career: Internship in Pediatrics; Residency in Adult Psychiatry and Fellowship in Child Psychiatry all at UCLA; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCSD; Private Practice of Psychiatry in Encinitas, California for 40 years

Avocations: Travel, the great outdoors, the beach, several wonderful dogs, raising my children and grandchildren and hosting kids from other countries.

College: Branford

My greatest treasures are my friends, and my daughters are my best friends. Their work enriches the lives of many people. Ariane is an improvisational and sketch actor, a member of the famous Groundlings Company. Carolyn is an occupational therapist who has cared for patients from five to 95. They have much more wisdom than I had at their age. They have given me sons-in-law and three incredible grandsons. I try to divide my time between Hollywood and Encinitas.

I love my work, looking forward to seeing the kids on my calendar. I never became the sort of child psychiatrist who does mainly medication management. I do prescribe medicines, when helpful, but I see only one patient each hour. Often we walk to the nearby 7Eleven for a Slurpee. I’ve been recognized with Distinguished Fellowships in both the APA and AACAP and continue to write and teach. I noticed a paper I wrote over 20 years ago was referenced in the Wikipedia article on “Nerds.” I have organized a few symposia at national meetings including one on the challenges and joys of grandparenting. Recently I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but it is relatively mild, and I hope to keep seeing patients for a while longer. I’ve been boxing to push back against the Parkinson’s.

Back in the mid-’90s my then 12-year-old nephew came for a visit from France. As it turned out, we had so much fun that word spread among friends and family in Europe that “Camp Nick” was a great destination. Over the past 25 years, and continuing to this day, my life has been blessed with wonderful kids usually from France or Germany who come to learn to surf, improve their English, and enjoy San Diego. I have many “nephews” and “nieces” around the world. We go to their weddings and now they bring their children to Camp Nick.

Each year I interview a bunch of Yale applicants. Most of these kids are accomplished beyond belief. More than 90 percent of them do not get accepted to Yale. I tell them getting accepted is not really based on merit, but more on what Yale is seeking in terms of diversity and community. I feel fortunate to have been a Yalie in the ’60s and then had nine years of medical training at UCLA. I believe Yale is a wonderful place to study, possibly better than ever, but only one of so many great American colleges.

Any regrets? Sure. I think I have some ADD that I’ve mostly ignored. I have finally learned to finish one project before starting on another. Also, I wish I had traveled to more exotic places. I travel often, but mostly going to where I have friends and family in a few countries that I have come to know well. Maybe finally now I will go to Asia, Africa, or South America. I’m sure I would be amazed! In any case, Encinitas is a wonderful little town to come home to!