Nathan Wei, late of Frederick, Maryland, died of gastric cancer two years ago March at age 68.  His wife held his memorial service at his packed house in Laytonsville just about two years ago.  She asked the men to wear bowties, which Nathan so liked to sport when he had to wear a tie (he preferred scrubs), so I bought a nice maize-and-blue one at van Boven’s out of double respect for the guy, who’d did a year in Radiology and two in Internal Medicine training at U-Hospital.

Nathan and I had become scopy buddies in the very early days, maybe ’86.   He saw what Bill Arnold was doing and was determined to do it himself, and did, and then some. 

He got some help from the legendary late Bob Jackson of Toronto who took advantage of being Canadian team physician for the ‘64 Tokyo Olympics to spend time with modern arthroscopy’s father Makei Watanabe then come home to Toronto and figure out how to do surgery with the scope of his he just bought.  Jackson had no worries about rheumatologists picking up the procedure and welcomed Nathan’s interest.  Later on, Nathan collaborated with another American arthroscopy legend – Lanny Johnson of East Lansing – so he’s been touched by the two biggest names in North American arthroscopy.  Pretty good bloodlines.  Whereas I got Bill’s attention to teach me and Bill Kelley’s department of medicine to pave the way, that same institution would throw up a lot of road blocks that Nathan didn’t have to see.  Granted, he had his share of challenges.  He took on most anything that looked good to him.  Arthroscopic surgery for arthritis of all types, even use of a laser,  epidurals, nerve blocks, DEXA, bone biopsy, muscle biopsy, salivary gland biopsy (I taught him that one), skin biopsy, fat pad biopsy, stem cell treatments and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, in-office MRI, ultrasound, even US-directed wire transection of the volar carpal ligament for carpal tunnel syndrome.   Now and then he took on an associate, but mostly it was just him and his many nurses, who always got authorship credit on his publications.  Pharma sought him out and vice versa, not just for the mundane crank-em-through phase III studies, but interesting early studies of novel agents, especially if they wanted tissue.  They knew Nathan could get the patients, handle them and the paperwork efficiently, and get ‘em tissue.   He did over 200 studies before he wrapped it up December ’17.  Over the past several years, he’d gotten into social media to promote his practice, featuring regular web broadcasts on various medical topics.  When I visited him last, he interviewed me for one of them.  Whenever I visited, which was much less than I wish I’d done, I’d be in awe of his operation.

In the 90s, he decided to convene a small course to teach others what he did.  These were initially held at his office then later at the Anatomy labs of the University of Maryland in Baltimore.  He procured several fresh cadavers from the city morgue and had the 6 or so in attendance (plus 3 instructors, of which I was one) go through multiple joint injections, other injections, and various biopsies.  Tuition was not cheap, but students liked what they got.  Besides the procedural training, they got a little taste of the Nathan philosophy.  Brought up to disdain mammon in medicine, I was sometimes taken aback when he talked about things like the precarious position of rheumatology practice and the need for “marketing”.  Probably too late I realized that what that really involved was being able to explain what you were doing, including why it was special and important, in a clear terse understandable manner.  For rhematologists who seldom deal with anything that’s clear cut, bringing clarity to a pronouncement can be a big challenge.

I sort of lost track of Nathan until the Spring of ’16, when I saw on one of those academic tracking sites that someone out of Frederick Maryland had accessed one of my old arthroscopy papers from the early 90s. I called Nathan to ask why he needed to look at such ancient stuff.  He denied doing such a thing, but we got to talking about what he was doing and of course it was interesting.  A company called MyEye had made a 1.4 mm arthroscope you could just poke in under local anesthesia in the office, plus they’d used state of the art image enhancement to make what you see look like something from the standard 4.0 mm glass lens scope you’d use in the OR.  The “needle scopes” of the 90s that got a lot of rheumatologists hyped up suffered from poor image quality.  Not the MyEye.  I went to visit in August and was impressed.  I could see this bringing arthroscopy back to rheumatology.  Nathan arranged a dinner with Mark Foster, president of MyEye, and we made all sorts of plans.  My upcoming sabbatical at UCSD with scopy buddy Ken Kalunian would be a chance to do this in earnest.  Nathan was pleased he’d have some company and we were off to the races.  Too bad we crashed and burned.  Too bad I never made it back to Frederick till it was too late.

I don’t do arthrocopy anymore, haven’t since May ’01 (unless you count that cadaver knee at the Marriott in La Jolla January ’17), but I can still write about it; I’ve done 2 slightly different versions of “Arthroscopy in rheumatology”, one already into the The Journal of Surgery and Surgical Technology, and one about to be submitted to Rheumatology (Oxford). My coauthors on each are my mentor Bill Arnold and my best scopy buddy Ken Kalunian.  Each manuscript is dedicated to Nathan, as follows:

“We dedicate this to our dear departed friend and ever inspiring colleague, Nathan Wei, for whom the light was always burning bright.”

Now let me take words from others to tell you about Nathan.   The first is from The Rheumatologist, a monthly tabloid put out by the American College of Rheumatology.  Danny Malone from Wisconsin shared Nathan’s cowboy ways, perfecting with him a technique using a wire under ultrasound guidance to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.  And you know Bill Arnold by now.

The second item is by Nathan himself, written for Medcape in October ’17, not long after he received his cancer diagnosis.

The last item is his obituary from the Frederick News-Post, followed by comments.

From The Rheumatologist

In Memoriam: Nathan Wei

May 18, 2018 • By  Daniel G. Malone, MD, RMSK, FACR, & William J. Arnold, MD, FACP, MACR

We are sad to report that Nathan Wei, MD, FACR, passed away March 27 from aggressive cancer.

Dr. Wei was a passionate, compassionate, fiercely independent innovator, student and teacher, who carved out his own way of doing things, always in the pursuit of excellent patient care. He was unafraid to embrace cutting-edge medical services for his patients, and to seek training from the best and most authoritative people in the world to provide those services.

Dr. Wei was one of a kind that we may not see again in this era of guidelines, rigid training requirements and limitations because of medical malpractice concerns. These days, there are few who match his innovation, ingenuity and passion, all of which we should strive to teach our trainees.

Nathan preferred the road less traveled, and what he valued above all else were the benefits to his patients and the professional rewards of providing them with the best care available. He would let nothing stand in the way of accomplishing those goals.

Dr. Wei did his rheumatology fellowship in the Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases under John Decker, MD, and Paul Plotz, MD, MACR, 1978–1981. He then established a solo rheumatology practice, which—even in those days—was difficult. Difficult was Nathan’s cue to get something done. He read countless books on business. He studied arthroscopy under the orthopedic surgeons who helped bring it to the U.S., and he became an adept arthroscopist. He was the only rheumatologist member of the North American Arthroscopy Association. He was one of the two rheumatologists in the world who perform the thread carpal tunnel release procedure, a new, innovative, minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided method for complete carpal tunnel release with no incision, sutures or post-op rehab necessary.1,2 His practice  became  extremely  successful  in general  rheumatology,  and  it also offered patients a variety of skillfully done procedures.

His passion for learning was matched by his passion for teaching. He created and directed a variety of procedure courses for physicians in his office and in the cadaver lab at the Maryland Anatomy Board. He also organized a semiannual patient education day, to which he brought nationally known speakers to provide education completely for the enlightenment of his patients. These were always well attended and highly lauded by the patients.

Dr. Wei is survived by his wife and four children, who will greatly miss him, as will we, his colleagues, who admire his abilities and his dedication to education, teaching and excellence in patient care.

Daniel G. Malone, MD, RMSK, FACR, is president of the Wisconsin Rheumatology Association, a clinical associate professor of medicine-rheumatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and a rheumatologist in the Prairie Ridge Clinic of the Columbus Community Hospital.

William J. Arnold, MD, FACP, FACR, is a co-founder of Orthopaedics & Rheumatology of the North Shore in Skokie, Ill. He is the recipient of the Arthritis Foundation’s (Illinois Chapter) Freedom of Movement Award and was named a Master of the ACR in 2011. He has served on the Board of Directors of the ACR Research and Education Foundation and was a member of   the task force on ultrasound, as well as a board member of the International Society for Musculoskeletal Imaging in Rheumatology.

References

1. Guo D, Guo D, Guo J, Malone DG, Wei N. A cadaveric study for the improvement of thread carpal tunnel release. J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Oct;41(10):e351–e357.
2. Guo D, Guo D, Guo J, Schmidt SC, Lytie RM. A clinical study of the modified thread carpal tunnel release. Hand (N Y). 2017 Sep;12(5):453–460.

Five months before he died, Nathan published in Medscape how he was doing with his new diagnosis.  I hope he put a lot of miles on that Porsche

Perspective > Wei on Arthritis

from Medscape

When a Physician Finds Himself the Patient

How One Doctor Is Dealing With His Diagnosis

Nathan Wei, MD

October 05, 2017

A Doctor’s Diagnosis, His Daughter’s Prescription

It began with 3 days of right upper quadrant pain. I called a surgeon friend of mine, who examined me in his office and ordered a gallbladder sonogram. It showed acute cholecystitis as well as a possible hemangioma in the liver.

Nathan Wei, MD

A laparoscopic cholecystectomy ensued, but afterwards the surgeon said that he saw something peculiar on my liver. He contacted a hepatic surgeon colleague at Johns Hopkins, who recommended an MRI scan (the second of innumerable imaging procedures to come.) A recommendation for other tests, including a liver biopsy, came next.

And so my odyssey began.

The liver biopsy at Johns Hopkins was uncomplicated, and I thought, “It’ll be a hemangioma.

I still remember the call from the Hopkins surgeon. It was noon on the following Thursday, and I was ready to eat lunch. I picked up the phone, and the surgeon told me, “They found poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma,” adding, “I need to schedule you for more tests.” The only word I could murmur at the end of the conversation was a weak, “Okay.”

After I hung up, I asked my staff to cancel my afternoon schedule. I was in no shape to see patients. The next thing I did was to call my wife with the news. When you receive the diagnosis of cancer, it hits you like a tsunami. All the neurons in your body shut down. You become a zombie.

Somehow, I drove home. My wife was at the back door to greet me. She was on the phone with our oldest child, and said, “Becky has a great idea and would like to talk with you.”

I put the phone to my ear: “Dad, you should go out and get that Porsche you’ve always wanted.” I thanked Becky for her suggestion and handed the phone back to my wife.

My legs felt really heavy all of a sudden, and I went in and sat on the couch. My wife said, “You should do what Becky said,” adding, “Don’t be cheap about it.”

While still in my zombie-like state, I stood up and said, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

The two of us drove to the Porsche dealer. My wife stayed with me a bit but had some other errands and left me with the parting words, “Do it!”

Usually, my wife and I purchase preowned vehicles after doing a lot of research and entering into brutal negotiations. So it was completely out of character for me to walk in to this dealer with no negotiating weapons in my quiver. After minimal haggling and signing a bunch of papers, I got the keys to a Porsche 911 Carrera 4, my ultimate dream car.

I drove away in this cushy cocoon, this Teutonic work of art. Extravagant? Outrageous? Yes. Affordable? Probably not. But emotionally, I felt on top of the world.

Treatment Begins

The subsequent days were a combination of more imaging studies, lab tests, and two hospital admissions. The first was for a bleed into the liver. My hemoglobin dropped to 6 g/dL, and I spent the day in the ICU getting transfusions. After discharge, I was readmitted with fever and dyspnea. This hospitalization was longer because, frankly, the doctors were stumped. Finally, empiric antibiotics designed to hit intestinal pathogens seemed to do the trick. I was able to go home.

(Oh yeah, my diagnosis is carcinoma of the stomach with metastases to adjacent lymph nodes and liver.)

I stayed healthy enough to get a port placed the next day and started chemotherapy the day after that. One of the drugs, 5-fluorouracil, requires a 24-hour infusion through a portable pump you have to carry around. The next day, a home care nurse came out to show me how to remove the needle from the port.

Having some of our children travel home to be with us was a great help.

For the first 2 days after chemo, I felt fine. Then, the bottom dropped out. Ten to 15 bouts of watery diarrhea a day for the next 5 days, and oral hydration wasn’t cutting it.

When my systolic blood pressure hit 78 and I could barely walk, I bit the bullet and went to the local emergency department to get my tank refilled. Talk about night and day! I felt terrific after the fluids were in.

Going back to work after missing almost 4 weeks was tough. Even a half-day schedule was fatiguing. It still is. I can barely go a half-day still.

Reflections

It’s funny how some things become important. I never used to be bothered by being referred to as “Mr.” in the hospital when I’ve been a patient in the past. However, I requested that I be referred to as “Dr.” It was one of the few pieces of dignity I felt I had left.

Being poked a lot was not pleasant, and my ordinarily big-veined pipes turned into little pipes, along with ugly ecchymoses around them. My arms would be an entree into the Blue Man Group, for sure.

I also had so many CAT scans with contrast, I don’t think I need any radiation therapy. A PET scan is an interesting test. They have you drink this sugary liquid a couple of times while they put you into a machine like an MRI scanner. The magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatograph I had was tough because you have to hold your breath, and with the fever and dyspnea it was not easy.

I’ve let my hair and beard grow because I’m expecting they will fall out soon, so what’s the point of getting them cut?

While I’m not particularly religious, I’ve always believed in a force, a Supreme Being that is larger than us. So I have always prayed on a daily basis, every time beginning with a thank you for what I have: my health (I’m still on the green side of the grass!), my family, friends, work, and the many blessings I have had in my life. I am also grateful for the gift of another day. As my wife says, “One step at a time, one foot in front of the other.”

As you can see, I don’t pray for a cure.

The mantra of the Stoic philosophers is this: “Control what you can; cope with what you can’t; concentrate on what counts.” I have no control over what the cancer will do. What I do have control over is to meet the enemy with courage, a strong will, and conditioning; to give it my best shot.

I listen to my kind of motivational music to pump me up: “Gonna Fly Now” (Bill Conti from Rocky), “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” (Pat Benatar), “We Will Rock You” (Queen), “Eye of the Tiger” (Survivor), etc—things to keep my spirits up.

Prior to all of this, I was a fitness fanatic and earned my certification as a personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. So it’s been killing me not being able to work out like I did. I’ve started riding a recumbent bike slowly, and even that’s an arduous undertaking.

Being on the other side is not where you want to be, but we’ll all be there someday. Fortunately, my patients have been very understanding, and it’s been gratifying to know I’ve made such a positive difference in their lives.

You would think that as a rheumatologist, I would be studying all of the effects of the chemotherapy drugs on my T cells, cytokines, and so forth. I couldn’t care less. All I’m interested in is learning about side effects and how I can minimize them.

When it comes down to it, it’s a primal struggle.

Some other things occur to me. I started unsubscribing to many of the emails I get. Many are no longer relevant. Reading the book The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living has helped me gain more insight into myself. Finally, I have Nietzsche’s quote hanging up in front of me at home: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

I hope I get stronger.

Nathan Wei

finally, from the Frederick News-Post

1949 – 2018

Nathan Wei, MD, 68, of Laytonsville, Maryland, passed away on March 27, 2018, at Georgetown University Hospital after a brave battle with gastric cancer. He was born on August 10, 1949 in New York City to Peter and Pearl Wei, recent immigrants from China.

Dr. Wei was a 1971 graduate of Swarthmore College and a 1975 graduate of Jefferson Medical College. After an internship in Medicine at Blodgett Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he pursued a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, where he also completed his Internal Medicine residency. He then took up a fellowship as a clinical associate at the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. After completing his Rheumatology training in 1981, he opened a private practice in Frederick, Maryland, where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in December 2017.

Dr. Wei served as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He participated in more than 200 clinical trials for arthritis treatments and medications. Dr. Wei is known for his many contributions to the development of interventional rheumatology, including arthroscopy, stem cells, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of osteoarthritis. He published extensively in medical and arthritis publications and lectured internationally. Dr. Wei was a teacher and a mentor, opening his practice to a countless number of medical students and colleagues. A strong believer in the importance of patient education, he self-produced innumerable online videos, cultivating a sizable following. When he received his diagnosis and found himself in the role of patient, he took it as a learning opportunity.

Dr. Wei shared 34 years of marriage with his wife, Judy Hearst. Together they raised four children, Becky Piper (Jack), Jeffrey, Benji (Megan) and Emily . He is also survived by siblings Wesley, Esther, and Deborah; a labradoodle named Mei Mei and numerous additional family members.

Some of his happiest times were spent on family vacations, in particular a recent trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands in January 2018, just two months prior to his death. He loved to share his favorite activities, including fishing, sailing, snorkeling, and snowboarding, as well as fine food and wine. His cooking skills were beyond compare, especially his exceptional barbecue chicken. An avid fitness enthusiast, he recently completed his personal training certification with the American College of Sports Medicine.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nathan Wei’s memory may be made to the Pearl Wei Memorial Scholarship Fund at Jefferson. Mail to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Attn: Colleen Gross,125 South 9th Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19107, or donate online by visiting giving.Jefferson.edu. Donations may also be made to the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown University:

 ruesch.georgetown.edu.

A celebration of his life is planned for a later date. Please view and sign the family’s online guestbook at

 www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Published in The Frederick News-Post from Mar. 30 to Apr. 1, 2018.

Wei Pages

ME MO R IE S & C O ND O L E NC E S

31 entries

December 4, 2018

I was a patient of Dr. Wei’s since 2013. He was a most kind and thoughtful person. I enjoyed our conversations during my appointments and had full confidence in his treatment and care of me. I am so sorry to read of his passing.

Sally Rivenburgh

July 17, 2018

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Wei’s passing. I worked for him from 2002- 2003 as a marketing recruiter and I really admired him as a physician, as my employer, and most of all I admired the family man that he was. His work ethic and strive for excellence still influences me today. My prayers are with Judy and his wonderful children.

Julie Tharpe

June 21, 2018

Dear family of Dr. Wei,

I found out this afternoon that he had passed back in March. This truly saddens my heart. He was an exceptional man and doctor and I will be forever grateful for not only my treatments but especially Niki’s, my wife. Dr. Wei diagnosed her at age 29 with RA and treated her for over 30 years. Thanks to him she is in remission.

May God comfort you and yours and God bless Nathan Wei.

David Corkran

June 21, 2018

My heartfelt condolences to all who are grieving the loss of Dr. Wei. He was my physician since 1985 when he diagnosed my RA. It was so sad to see him so ill….. Rest In Peace dear Dr. Wei…..

Niki Corkran

June 14, 2018

Even though he was unwell, he helped my wife have a better life. We honor his memory.

Andy Sullivan

June 7, 2018

Dear family of Dr. Wei, I was so, so saddened to learn of Dr. Wei’s passing just a few minutes ago. It breaks my heart. He was beyond extraordinary as a physician. None will ever compare. He had lost his hair, was wearing a mask, and didn’t feel very well during my last doctor’s visit with him and STILL, he was as in tune as ever with how I was getting along and what was needed for my medical situation. It pretty much sums up his dedication. I’m glad to read that he was able to enjoy a wonderful vacation with the family one last time. I know his family and friends are struggling with this loss. I pray for peace for each of you, and mourning to change to memories and smiles. Sincerely,

Renee Lease

May 4, 2018

I want to send my heartfelt condolences for your loss. Nate and I were great friends at Swarthmore College and we stayed in touch through our Medical school and NIH years.

Nate always had a great spirit and a great heart and he will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him.

Sincerely,

Bob Clark

University of Connecticut Medical School

Farmington, CT

April 29, 2018

Dr. Wei was my husband’s doctor a few years ago. I am so saddened by this news. He was always so full of life and laughter. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Godspeed, Dr. Wei.

Antonia Litsinger

April 25, 2018

Very sorry to hear of Dr. Wei’s passing.He was intelligent, thoughtful and caring physician and one of my most respected colleagues. I send condolences and prayers to his family.

Anish Patel

April 19, 2018

Sending prayers to the Wei family. I worked for Dr. Wei from 1986-1988 and babysat his two oldest kids occasionally. He was incredibly intelligent and a perfectionist in his work. I have fond memories of those years. Judy, my heart goes out to you and your family and I will continue to keep you in my prayers. With love – Megan

Hassett Krucenski

April 10, 2018

Frank add I are so sorry to learn of Nathan’s passing. We send our heartfelt sympathy to all the family.

Sue and Frank NIsenfeld

April 6, 2018

Dr. Wei was one of the most extraordinary people & Physicians this world will ever know. He made this world a better place in every way. We will never forget him. His intelligence, humor, & generosity can only be described in terms of superlatives. We will cherish our memories of him. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family & friends.

Allen & GLoria Barwick

April 5, 2018

Dr. Wei was an amazing physician. I was impressed with him from the very first appointment. He talked with me, questioned and really listened. Then diagnosed. Tested to prove he was right. Then treated. He helped me understand my issues and how to live with the diagnosis. My condolences to his family, which we got to know through his newsletters. He was a very special man. He will be missed by the medical community for his innovative outlook, by his staff that became like a family, and his patients that needed his talents.

Carolyn Derr

April 5, 2018

I was saddened to learn of Nathan’s passing. He was among the most health conscious of my neighborhood circle of friends so it was logical to believe we had many more years of adventures. Yoga or biking were two activities we shared. There could have been more. For example, we talked about healthy nutrition on a countryside bike ride, and to illustrate he got excited about buying fresh vegetables at a roadside stand. He practiced what he preached and he loved sharing!

Nathan talked about his wife, children, and Mei Mei in a way that made it obvious he loved them.

Though shocked at this news, I will always remember and appreciate Nathan for his friendship.

Francis Priznar

Neighbor

April 4, 2018

Condolences to Dr. Wei family, friends, patients and staff. My wife was a patient for many, many years and myself the past few years. He will be greatly missed in the medical practice profession. May God grant him peace and be with his family at this most difficult time.

Martin Munday Family

April 4, 2018

Learning of Dr Wei’s death this morning hurt my heart. This morning, my second visit with my new doctor, Dr Epstein, I simply ask if he new Nathan Wei. A strange expression crossed his face and he told me Dr  Wei’s dire condition. He took the time and found Dr Wei’s obituary. I know so much about him and you, his lovely family, through his monthly, Wei’s World. He diagnosed my condition in 2002 and I moved to the Philadelphia area 2005. A hard move, leaving my doctor. I’m so sorry for your great loss. I will always remember him as an exceptional doctor and a wonderful person.

Hazel Monk-Montgomery

Philadelphia, Pa

April 4, 2018

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Wei. He was truly a wonderful person and he was super to work for. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers for the family.

Diane Shew

Diane Shew

April 3, 2018

MY HEART GOES OUT TO DR. WEI’S FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW YOU OVER THE YEARS.HE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL DOCTOR TO ME, HE REALLY TOOK THE TIME WITH HIS PATIENTS ESPECIALLY ME AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW I WAS DOING HE WOULD ALWAYS ASKED HOW MY FAMILY WAS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID AND DONE FOR ME. R.I.P. DR.WEI

LORI PAYNE

April 3, 2018

So very sorry to hear about the death of Doctor Wei. He was a remarkable ­­­­­­­­­­physician and human being. He never settled for average and was always looking for ways through publishing and clinical trials in an effort to help the patients who depended on him. He just never gave up trying to ease people’s pain.

No one will be able to fill his shoes. He was one of a kind. He was respected and loved by both patients and colleagues. I could always count on discussing a clinical paper that I may have read between my appointments and hear his perspective. Dr. Wei you will truly be missed

Debra Woodard

April 3, 2018

Our family will always remember Dr. Wei for the Good Deeds contest he sponsored around 2003. We will always be grateful and inspired by this act of generosity. We send our sympathy and prayers to his family.

Pridemore Family

April 2, 2018

I AM SORRY FOR Your LOSS My prayers go out to his and his family. Dr Wei

HAS BEEN MY DR FOR 25 YEARS AND a good one.HE WILL BE MISS.God

Bless

Thanks Ms Baugher

Elizabeth Baugher

April 2, 2018

Condolences to Dr. Wei’s family, friends, patients, and colleagues. I I worked at his Frederick Practice mid 1999 into early 2000 – his patients loved him and he did a lot for them and he will be missed. Michelle L. Currey

Michelle Currey

April 1, 2018

Sincere sympathy to Dr. Wei’s family. He was a true pioneer in the practice of Rheumatology for the Frederick community. A gentle and caring human being.

Truby LaGarde OT

Truby LaGarde

April 1, 2018

Not only a great physician , but a great friend for 28 years, Will be missed by my Husband and

Raymond & Vivian Poole

March 31, 2018

A great friend and a great physician, he will mbe missed by all of his colleagues. Leland

Leland Loose

March 31, 2018

A great friend of more than forty years. An inspiration to us all with his efforts at theaching, research, and patient care.

He will be missed.

Thomas J. A. Lehman MD

March 31, 2018

My sincere sympathy to all his family. He was such a great man, gentle, caring. I missed him when he retired but will always remember how good he was to me.

Shirley Luersen (patient)

March 30, 2018

So sorry to see Nathan’s life cut short like this. Fun person to talk with. Could have great conversation about many topics. Was fortunate to spend a great fishing trip in northern Ontario with Nathan. It was a fantastic trip and one full of great memories for me. I’m sorry we won’t be able to do it again. Rest In Peace my friend.

Scott Mitchell

March 30, 2018

Nathan was one of those doctors who was never satisfied with the “standard of care.” He was continually exploring and pushing the bounds to discover what the standards really should be. His inquisitive nature was a great model for all of us in the personal service industries. He will be missed. Our prayers for comforting









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