Art Unveiling and Appreciation Ceremony for Fast Family

On June 28th, Dr. Robert Fast, along with his cousins David and Kirk, donated a piece of artwork to the Atchison Hospital. The hospital then honored the Fast Family with a plaque for their more than one hundred years of service, sacrifice, and dedication to the Atchison Hospital and the surrounding community. The Fast Family legacy began with Dr. W.K. Fast, a well-known Atchison doctor who practiced from 1915 to 1942. Dr. William Spencer Fast continued the legacy from 1940 to 1980. Finally, Dr. Robert Fast served as an OB-GYN at Atchison Hospital from 1977 to 1992 and recently retired after forty-one years of service in the medical field.

At the ceremony, Dr. Fast spoke many words about the sacrifices doctors have to make for the sake of their calling. He emphasized the importance of going into the medical field to take care of people and do good. He also reflected on the many changes and noteworthy events in the medical industry over the years that at times seemed overwhelming and caused him to feel as if he would not be able to keep up. Ultimately, Dr. Fast believed in his calling to be a physician more than he feared the ever-changing world of medicine. Two of the many highlights of his career are delivering more than 9,500 babies and then having the privilege of working alongside some of those he delivered.

Part of the Fast Family legacy is the belief that being a doctor is much more than just a profession. Over the course of his career, Fast has considered himself a community leader, focused on service in local community hospitals where genuine personal care is a core value.