Bud, My Buddy

. . . is moving away

I'm not quite sure when I met my good friend, Bud Kahn, but I knew from the start he would be a friend.

Maybe 40 years ago, it happened while we were making rounds on our patients at Rhode Island Hospital.

Nattily dressed, looking like a doctor should, ever the smile, he was buzzing about efficiently. “Hi, I’m Bud.” And so, it went.

Bud is Dr. Charles Kahn, a retired endocrinologist and diabetologist who, when he came here from Boston, set the standard and taught the medical community and patients alike about the management of diabetes. When you were his patient being managed for diabetes, you were a Khanabetic. People loved him.

Ever optimistic, it is no surprise that his practice boomed from the start. Bud was the go-to guy.

His resume is too long to recount in toto.

He grew up in Denver and attended the University of Colorado, where he studied at its School of Medicine. After training in Boston, he and his lovely wife, Sue, settled in Providence, where they raised their two children. Lucky for us, for me.

Among his many accomplishments, both national and local, and despite an enormous practice, he found time to serve as President of the RI Medical Society and, at another time, chair the Board of Trustees of The Miriam Hospital.

In 2015, The Miriam Hospital sponsored the Charles “Bud” Kahn, M.D., Lifetime Leadership Award, which recognizes a Miriam physician for "outstanding leadership over a lifetime of service" and who "exemplifies professionalism and leadership in a variety of ways, to include open communication, collaboration, cooperation, commitment, and integrity."

Inherent in the award are the characteristics so well exemplified by Bud.

Over the years, we grew closer, sharing patients, serving on committees, but more importantly, we became partners in our respective golf tournaments. It was plain fun. Relaxed, carefree, and anticipated year after year.

He was one of the many who came on our golf trips, one of the guys, appreciating every moment on the golf courses of Florida and in the restaurants. And rejoicing, as we all did, in the hole-in-one he had had one year.

Bud was in his glory, loving his involvement and helping us realize that we're playing a game that is not that important. It was more about the camaraderie.

That’s what he was about: professionalism with a huge inclusion of family, friendship, and fun.

Moments to cherish away from the stresses of practicing medicine.

I valued my friendship with Bud. We shared a bond that went beyond our profession, beyond something casual. We shared wins (not many on the golf course) and struggles. We learned from our different backgrounds, from each other. It was a loyal friendship.

“Hey, Bro, how ya doin’? Are you sure your Mom didn’t have another kid? Me?” was his common refrain to me and brother Peter.

At one point, I struggled with my decision about whether I was ready to chair the RI Hospital Board of Trustees. Bud pulled me aside after one of our meetings. “Ed, it’s important that you accept the role as Chair. I’ve done it and learned a lot. I learned that the Board needs to get the perspective from a physician, and what better way than to be its chair?”

He was right. I accepted. It was a marvelous experience and everything Bud Kahn said it would be. I thanked him often for his advice.

Well, this good friend has been beaten down by infirmities in recent years. Because of that, he is moving soon, moving to New York to be closer to family.

In a recent visit, we shared our joys of these many years. And we shared our sorrow in our upcoming separation.

We shared un grande abbraccio . . . a big hug . . . and many tears when I said, “I’ll see ya, Bud. I’ll see ya.”

“Yup, Bro, see ya.”

2025