Operation Able Award Honorees Prove That Ability Really is Ageless
Dr. Vainutis Vaitkevicius (pictured), an oncologist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, doesn't work as many hours as he used to. But he's among the growing number of Americans working long past the traditional retirement age of 65.
Vaitkevicius, 80, will be among the ageless workers honored Oct. 24 at the 18th-annual Operation ABLE of Michigan Ability is Ageless Awards Luncheon. The event will be held starting at noon at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
Known as "Dr. Vee" to patients and colleagues, Vaitkevicius will be this year's recipient of the Neal Shine Lifetime Achievement Award, named after long-time journalist and former Detroit Free Press publisher Neal Shine.
Vaitkevicius, who plans to formally retire in January, will he honored by Operation ABLE for the 50-plus years he has spent treating cancer patients, teaching new oncologists, conducting research and working as a leader in the health care community.
Vaitkevicius said there is a simple answer to why he has continued his career for so long: he views medicine not as a job, but as a calling – a calling he has had a lot of fun fulfilling for all these years.
"When I first went into medicine," he said, "I was almost embarrassed to take payment for my services."
That love of his work never left him, Vaitkevicius said. If it were not for the illness of his wife, he added, "I would have continued as long as I have the brain cells to keep going."
In 1958, Vaitkevicius was awarded a Cancer Research Fellowship at the Detroit Institute of Cancer Research and became the Institute's clinical director in 1962. The Institute later merged with the Michigan Cancer Foundation and Vaitkevicius was appointed its president in 1991.
In 1995, the Michigan Cancer Foundation was renamed the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Dr. Vee, as president emeritus, played a key role in making the institute one of 39 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers.
Vaitkevicius has written and co-written more than 100 books and articles and participated in numerous studies. In August, 2007 Crain's Detroit Business named him a "Health Care Hero."
Other Honorees
Operation ABLE of Michigan hosts the annual luncheon to salute employees 50 years of age and older, or with 25 years of service to a company, who daily make a difference to their companies through their experience, their work ethic and their commitment to excellence. This year, Carmen Harlan, WDIV-TV news senior anchor, will serve as the event’s emcee. Planners expect 500 people to attend the event.
In addition to Vaitkevicius, others to be honored at the Operation Able lunch are: • Greg Babb, 62, of Farmington Hills, admissions coordinator at The Village of Redford.
Ron Cronan, 64, a Detroit resident and account representative at Asset Acceptance in Wixom.
Angela Garafola, 73, Chesterfield Township resident and photo lab technician at CVS/Caremark in Chesterfield.
John Gernacy, 62, West Bloomfield, administrative team, registrar at Mercy High School, Farmington Hills.
Lois Hitchcock, 77, Southfield, ombudsman and information specialist at Citizens for Better Care in Detroit.
Mariann Hoag, 80, Birmingham, financial aid chair and alumni relations advisor at The Roeper School in Bloomfield Hills.
Nola Lee, 60, Detroit resident and business development and sales representative at Aluminum Supply Co. in Detroit.
Don Sachs, 82, Southfield, senior consultant at Peter Basso Associates in Troy.
Eleanor Sloat, 77, Warren, community health nurse at Henry Ford Health Care in Harper Woods.
Sandy Vassel, 60, Taylor, registered nurse at Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center in Dearborn.
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Dr. Vainutis Vaitkevicius (pictured), an oncologist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, doesn't work as many hours as he used to. But he's among the growing number of Americans working long past the traditional retirement age of 65.
