A year after he was brutally attacked, Dr. Mark Diem
is on the way to a new career.

JULIE EDGAR SENIOR WRITER

lmost exactly a year ago,
Dr. Mark Diem was flat on
his back in a hospital bed
trying to make sense of his
position: There he was, cracked
up and bruised, the victim of an
enraged patient. He hated the
tubes protruding from his arms
and mouth, the bandages around
his face and head, the fussing over
him by other doctors.
The ordeal left, him in the hos-
pital for two weeks, and required
a year's worth of therapy — phys-
ical, occupational, recreational and
psychological. He still can't re-
member what happened that
morning outside one of his former
clinics in Warren.
And after three postponements,
40-year-old Marc Vincent Yaden
is scheduled to go to trial July 29
on a charge of assault with intent
to commit murder. Dr. Diem, 52,
believes the case may never go to
trial, however, because he can't
remember what happened on
June 27, and the lone eyewitness
has been institutionalized in a

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state mental hospital.
"You cannot ruminate over
what may or may not happen," he
said. "I would be angrier if I were
more disabled. I'd be angrier to see
this man walking free thinking he
could do it to other people. I'm a
little perturbed that he may be us-
ing our legal system by means of
postponements and technical ma-
neuvers to better his chances. I'm
resigned to this issue. If I were
mad, I'd be mad all my life."
And as it happens, Dr. Diem,
the president of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek's Men's Club, will
be out of town July 29 on yet an-
other adventure.
Despite some memory impair-
ment caused by brain injuries he
sustained in the assault, Dr. Diem
has not slowed down. On the con-
trary, he's about to launch a new
phase in his life.
Four months before the attack,
he sold his six First Care medical
clinics, a move that freed him up
financially and allowed him to
pursue other lifelong dreams. He

PH OTO BY DANIEL LIP PITT

On The Mend

continued to do some work out of Michigan. When he returns, he rapher. I worked on the U-M year-
the clinics and to review admis- plans to enroll in an undergradu- book, took pictures for fraternities
sions for Blue Cross/Blue Shield ate architecture program at and sororities. My mother said,
of Michigan. He also continued his Lawrence Technological Univer- `No, be a doctor first. Then you can
play around and be a photogra-
world travels, visiting Ethiopia, sity.
pher.'
for one, with a group of doc-
"Now, since I have the op-
tors.
portunity, I want to do some-
Then the assault. Police
thing creative," he said.
said Mr. Yaden walked into
Yet, Dr. Diem is also
the clinic and demanded a re-
geared to the academic life,
fill of Vicoden, a painkiller he
and he feels he needs the for-
had been using for back pain.
mality of a campus, home-
Dr. Diem refused because
work and grades.
there was no refill order from
"Instead of going out there
Mr. Yaden's doctors. Dr.
and
painting pictures or tak-
Diem then walked outside to
ing photographs, I go
inspect the roof with anoth-
through a learning process
er man, the witness who has
and get a degree. I've been
been institutionalized.
warned by one of the psy-
Dr. Diem awakened in a
chologists taking care of me
hospital that morning with
that the injury, plus my age,
seven skull fractures and
may leave me in a position
multiple broken ribs. His
where it's harder to take
eyes were sealed shut with
technical training required
bandages. He knew he want-
for architecture."
ed to go home as soon as pos-
Despite lingering symp-
sible.
toms of the head injury, like
"Mark wanted to get up
memory loss, Dr. Diem is cir-
and out, even though his eyes
cumspect about his fate.
were sealed," his wife, Linee,
"They warn me that my
recalled.
short-term memory is im-
This week, after having
paired. I don't notice, but the
been home for just a few Dr. Mark Diem: On the road to recovery.
testing is compatible with some-
weeks from a trip to Bolivia
one who's had a traumatic brain
with Linee and after accept-
"I've always thought I had a cre- injury. I can still function; I can
ing the Friends of Alyn Hospital's
annual award, Dr. Diem left for a ative bent to my personality. Be- still do things. But [the impair-
six-week geological course in Col- fore I became a doctor, I told my ment] is there, and I have to face
orado through the University of mother I wanted to be a photog- the fact." ❑

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