someone’s life forever … and not just one life, but many over the years? Five veteran physicians from the Chattanooga area recently reflected on a lifetime of service and agreed to share some of their most memorable experiences with HealthScope magazine. Their stories show how a heart for caring can continue for a lifetime. Dr. Minnie Ratliff Vance, age 89, was one of the first female pediatricians in private practice in Chattanooga. She was also one of the first physicians to admit an African-American child to the regular floor of T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital after segregation was abolished. Growing up in a Methodist parsonage with seven siblings, she learned the values of hard work and service. Throughout her medical career spanning almost 60 years, she regularly served underinsured and uninsured children.