A Letter of Recommendation for Jayson and the Story it Tells

To Whom It May Concern,

Over my 27 year career as an Emergency Physician at a level one trauma center and as a senior partner with St. Vincent Emergency Physicians Inc, I have written countless letters of recommendations for a steady stream of residents, medical professionals, community leaders, pharmaceutical representatives and pre-med students. Each hoping I’ll do my best to showcase their talent, highlight the bonus points that set them apart and maybe find that one key element that will jump their application to the top of your pile. I get their resumes, their list of accomplishments, usually the same old ‘I lead this or helped build this or managed this’ laundry list. At first glance Jayson Parker’s CV was no exception. It read pretty much like all the others except for one thing.

It was missing his story. It was missing his narrative, one that perhaps can only be told by someone from the outside looking in. It was missing what many of us in the community see in Jayson.

Only a select few, myself included, can truly comprehend the heroism that hides between the lines of his curriculum vitae and how this translates into his outlook on life, his view of the world and his ability to manage people and function in a time of crisis.

Some years back Jayson almost lost a child to cancer and the science of the time did not bode well for a good outcome. He sat and watched as his little girl suffered through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. At that time, I recall thinking that I could barely imagine what he must be going through.

Some years later however, I didn’t have to imagine because I had to sit by my son's bed for 7 months in an ICU as he suffered through leukemia. I now know the depth of this fear. I know this darkness all too well. 

Thankfully, both of our children are now doing fine. But what separates Jayson’s journey from mine is the heroism he has shown in the face of this illness. I have turned down requests by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and other cancer organizations to become active with their boards for the simple fact that the emotional toll my child’s cancer took on me is too great. I simply can’t go there. Jayson not only went there, he dove right in and started a charity that helps support kids with cancer. He went with a sword and a shield, looked it in the eye and stood it down. He now runs the Tatum Parker Project, one of the most celebrated cancer support charities in the state, and in addition to providing hope and comfort to countless children going through chemotherapy, he has garnered the admiration and respect of thousands of community leaders in Indiana.

Very few have any idea what it’s like to confront your greatest fear like that, to turn tragedy into hope, despair into heroism and that is what leaders in business, medicine, politics and damn near all facets of life are made of. It is the just the right mixture of compassion, hope, strength of character, a no-problem-can’t-be-fixed attitude that not only leads to success but that elevates the people around him.

When Jayson asked if I would write this letter on his behalf, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed because I actually was trying to convince him to make a run for Mayor of Indianapolis. I was even willing to start financing it. That should tell you all you need to know about Jayson Parker.

I imagine you will do your due diligence, plow through a pile of applicants, highlighting those keywords, those ‘dependables and dedicateds and reliables and honests and whatever other adjectives your organization values and I am sure you will come across some fine applicants and some excellent prospects.

But Jayson Parker is different. He is a transcendent hero, a quiet leader that makes the world around him better. He’s a once in a career hire. You will have no regrets. I give him my full and resounding endorsement.

Louis M. Profeta MD

Dr. Louis M. Profeta is an emergency physician practicing in Indianapolis and a member of the Indianapolis Forensic Services Board. He is a national award-winning writer, public speaker and one of LinkedIn's Top Voices and the author of the critically acclaimed book, The Patient in Room Nine Says He's God. Feedback at [email protected] is welcomed. For other publications and for speaking dates, go to louisprofeta.com. For college speaking inquiries, contact [email protected].