By Tammy J. Gay

UK President Emeritus Frank Dickey speaks at the naming ceremony for the UK College of Medicine.

"I can't think of a more fitting tribute, considering the contributions Dr. Willard has made to the UK College of Medicine, the Chandler Medical Center and academic medicine nationwide."

-- Emery Wilson,
dean,
UK College of Medicine.

Oct. 11, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- University of Kentucky College of Medicine faculty, staff and alumni gathered today to rename the UK College of Medicine Building the William R. Willard Building after its first dean.

Willard came to UK in 1956 to direct the planning and activation of the College of Medicine and the Medical Center. He served as the first dean of the college until 1966 and vice president for the medical center until 1970. Before he left in 1972, he served as special assistant to UK President Otis A. Singletary.

"I can't think of a more fitting tribute, considering the contributions Dr. Willard has made to the UK College of Medicine, the Chandler Medical Center and academic medicine nationwide," said Emery Wilson, dean, UK College of Medicine.

Willard is remembered as a wise and courageous physician, educator, statesman and humanitarian.

While at UK, Willard anticipated and developed models for innovative changes in education for medicine and other health professions, health care delivery, and the nature and role of the academic medical center.

A true visionary, he saw change as a challenge to be anticipated and accommodated. In 1972, Willard received the prestigious Abraham Flexner Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Willard died in 1991 at the age of 82.

"Today, we remember and recognize a man who was known as a great innovator in medical education and community practice, and for his contributions to building this great academic medical center," said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. "Without his early work, we would not be striving toward becoming a top-20 research institution."