Dr Chase was one of the very first persons I met when I arrived at Stanford 26 years ago. I had completed my hand surgery fellowship a year prior to that, and it was during my fellowship thatI got to know about Dr Chase and his innovative work. It was clear that I needed to meet him.

At that time, I was a bit disillusioned with full time clinical work and had all these crazy ideas about medical education and surgical training. When I arrived in California, and first met Dr Chase, I was immediately comforted that these ideas were not that crazy after all. He had even crazier ideas!

In the first few weeks after meeting Dr Chase, we spent long hours chatting, brainstorming, and tinkering with gadgets to figure out how to do things differently, yet simplistically, to enhance anatomical and surgical teaching.

Over the next several months, as I got to know him more, I was amazed at how multi-talented he was, and what a pleasure it was being in his company. Not only was Dr Chase an amazing surgeon and educator, but he was adept at so much more ranging from photography (stereoscopic at that) to professional grade video production, including the wonderful audio narration he did in his quintessential baritone voice.

Everything was always done with a smile and a joke or two thrown in at the just the right moment – his comic timing was absolutely amazing. Working with him never felt like work. 

I also connected with Dr Chase at a personal level, due to the work he had done in India many years ago. Helping patients with complex hand problems in India was especially meaningful to both of us. And, in his classic amiable style, he would regale us with his stories from his time there about travel, food, and culture.

It was through Dr Chase that I was introduced to several others in the Stanford community and beyond – many of whom are in this room this evening – I consider this my family. Dr Chase was truly a “father” figure to me, as he was to many others.

Dr Chase was instrumental in restructuring Anatomy at Stanford and bringing it within the Department of Surgery. It was his foresight and vision that has given Stanford Anatomy its unique and enviable status as an educational and innovation leader today.

Dr Chase was a role model for me. Everything from his lecturing style to his dissection and surgical skills, to his quest for perfection was worthy of emulation. His career path gave me a possible direction for my future trajectory, and his guidance and support for my professional growth played a huge role in what I am today.

Over the last 25 years, I moved in and out of Stanford and indeed California several times, but always kept in touch with Dr Chase. His constant words of encouragement and advice have always served as golden nuggets of wisdom for me, including for several years in my present role as Division Chief. My final meeting with Dr Chase was in Grass Valley, when my wife and I drove up there to meet with him and Rob.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have met Dr Chase some 26 years ago, to have known him closely over the years, to have worked with him, to have learned from him, and to have countless beautiful memories to cherish from our time together. Let’s join hands and hearts today in recognizing, celebrating, and honoring Dr Chase, his life, and his many contributions. Thank you.

Written by Sakti Srivastava

Text of speech delivered at the Robert A Chase Celebration of Life event at Stanford Memorial Church on January 9, 2025.