Robert Lee Carter, M.D.

On April 20, 2022, Robert Lee Carter, M.D. passed away peacefully with his wife of 59 years by his side. He was 88 years old and was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia, on June 8, 1933. He is preceded in death by his parents Edwin Maxwell Carter and Minnie Elizabeth Wallace Carter, and is also preceded in death by his older brother, Edwin Lee Carter, M.D. of Massachusetts. He is survived by his wife, MaryLou Barreras Carter, and by his two nephews, Edwin Allan Carter (Barbara) and Colonel Mark Elliot Carter (Anna Martha). He is also survived by his two nieces, Sheila Ann Carter and Lisa Lee Carter of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. Carter graduated from Washington and Jefferson College and then from George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C. He came to Charity Hospital in New Orleans, for his internship and residency with the LSU service. In his senior year, he was appointed Assistant Clinical Director of Charity Hospital. Following his surgical training, he became a full member of the LSU Faculty Surgical Department. He was Board Certified in General and Cardiothoracic Surgery. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a Member of the Orleans Parish Medical Society and many other professional organizations.

Dr. Carter joined the private practice of Dr. Frank Rizza in 1967. He was Chief of the Medical Staff at West Jefferson Medical Center in 1977 and served as Chief of Surgery in 1979 and 1980. As Chairman of many committees, he was responsible for selecting the First Chief of Cardiology and the Chief of Pulmonary Medicine. He also assisted in recruiting several outstanding cardiac surgeons to become members of the West Jefferson Hospital medical staff. He was an excellent teacher and was also involved with mentoring senior LSU medical students who were interested in general surgery.

His legacy of service includes the establishing of West Jefferson Medical Center Cancer Program. As the liaison to the American Cancer Society, he received an award from them in 1993. He was the driving force along with other key physicians in the development of the West Jefferson Medical Center’s Cancer Program and Cancer Center. Through his many efforts and that of the members of the medical staff, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer designated West Jefferson Medical Center as an accredited Cancer Program and Cancer Center in 2003. His vision resulted in West Jefferson Medical Center having an outstanding cancer treatment facility. The patients in the community will benefit for his extraordinary contribution for many years to come.

Following his retirement from the private practice of surgery, he was appointed as adjunct Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Structural and Cellular Biology at Tulane University Medical Center. He taught for fourteen years and was well respected by his students.

Dr. Carter was a member of Metairie Country Club and enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He also liked working out in their gym every day. He was also a retired member of the Pickwick Club. He and MaryLou shared the love of winter sports, especially skiing. Every winter for thirty plus years, they skied. They also shared a great love for animals. They enjoyed their pets and did a lot of work to help those animals that were abandoned and homeless, as well.

Dr. Frank DiVincenti, a longtime friend and partner, said of him, “He was an excellent surgeon and was dedicated to his patients. He was known for his kindness, empathy and respect for them. During the day and the middle of the night, if one of his partners needed help in the operating room, he was always available and the first to arrive. He lived a long and full life as a husband, surgeon, teacher, friend to many — and always and always a gentleman.”

“And when the stream that overflows has passed, a consciousness remains upon the silent shore of memory; images and precious thoughts that shall not be and cannot be destroyed.” — William Wordsworth