enriching THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE A LASTING LEGACY Friends and Family Honor Dr. William B. Deal with an Endowed Medical Scholarship
William B. Deal
the best opportunity to help people, give back to
of the UAB School of Medicine. And his efforts resulted
the community, and do something I love every day,”
in the establishment of a foreign exchange program
Moore says. “I would like to someday be a part of
with Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan as
Doctors Without Borders to serve those in countries
well as the interdisciplinary Evelyn F. McKnight Brain
less fortunate than our own. I appreciate the support
Institute at UAB, which has become a preeminent
from the Deal scholarship on my journey to become
organization for age-related memory research in the
the first in my family to practice medicine.”
United States. During his years of service, funding
“The endowed scholarship bearing Will’s name
from the National Institutes of Health topped $200
is a fitting memorial to him,” says April Deal, Dr.
million, and UAB’s research footprint grew through
Deal’s widow. “Because he was the beneficiary of a
the construction of the Hugh Kaul Human Genetics
scholarship, his dream of becoming a physician and
Building and the Biomedical Research Building II.
Legacy
his visionary work in medical education was made
“My hope is that this scholarship will be an
possible. Will valued his time and career at UAB,
investment in the lives of the recipients and those in
NEWS OF THE SUDDEN PASSING of School
and he would be pleased that this scholarship will
their care,” April Deal says. “May the return on that
of Medicine (SOM) Dean Emeritus William B. Deal,
support future medical leaders.”
investment produce for humanity highly skilled and
M.D., in March 2013 brought profound sadness
As dean, Deal heartily embraced the challenge
caring physicians. It is a way to pay it forward.”
to the UAB SOM community. Almost immediately,
of promoting UAB’s position in national rankings
“Dr. Deal’s impact on the School of Medicine will
friends, family, and colleagues of his began search-
by implementing the “Top 10 by 2010” initiative in
be felt far into the future,” says Selwyn M. Vickers,
ing for a way to memorialize his long service to and
the school, laying a foundation for future strategic
M.D., senior vice president and dean of the School
passion for patient care and medical education.
plans that have been embraced by ensuing school
of Medicine. “His genuine passion for UAB and for
The William B. Deal, M.D., Endowed Medical
leadership. Deal’s enthusiasm, candor, and vision
the practice of medicine serves as an example both
Scholarship was established to support the training
attracted many of the country’s brightest minds to
to school leadership and to the next generation
and education of future medical professionals;
the school during his tenure, including current UAB
of physicians. I can think of no greater tribute to
Lindsay Scott Moore, a third-year medical student
President Ray L. Watts, M.D.
his years of dedicated service than an endowed
from Columbus, Ohio, is the first recipient. “I decided
Deal was instrumental in making the Huntsville
to pursue a career in medicine because I felt it offered
Regional Medical Campus an official branch campus
scholarship that opens doors and broadens horizons for young medical students.”
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Scholarship is a Gift to School of Nursing and Eileen Meyer SCHOOL OF NURSING BOARD OF VISITORS members Bruce Burns,
“We are proud to call Eileen an outstanding alumna of the School of
M.D., and his wife, Eileen Meyer, C.R.N.P., recently established an endowed
Nursing,” says Doreen Harper, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing. “Her
scholarship in the school. Burns is an internal medicine specialist working in the
leadership and advanced clinical nursing excellence have been recognized
emergency room at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Meyer is a nurse practi-
by legendary cardiovascular surgeons like Dr. Al Pacifico and Dr. Jim Kirklin.
tioner working in UAB cardiothoracic/vascular surgery.
Eileen and Bruce are wonderful friends of the school and we are thrilled to have
For Meyer’s 40th birthday, Burns honored her service as a nurse by
them on our Board of Visitors. They are an amazing team, and it is so fitting
endowing a scholarship in her name at the UAB School of Nursing, where she
that Bruce chose to honor Eileen by establishing this scholarship. I am so very
earned her master’s degree and received her nurse practitioner education. The
grateful to have shared this special evening with them.”
Eileen S. Meyer Endowed Nursing Scholarship is a testament to the shared commitment of this couple to the UAB School of Nursing, to the provision of quality nursing education, and to UAB. “This is such a wonderful thing that Bruce did,” Meyer says. She is happy to know that deserving UAB nursing students will have a smoother financial
Bruce Burns and Eileen Meyer with Doreen and Bill Harper
journey because of this scholarship and that it is in the UAB School of Nursing. Meyer began her UAB nursing career as a nurse practitioner for famed cardiac surgeon Al Pacifico, M.D., and has since worked with famed cardiac surgeon James Kirklin, M.D. “Eileen has that winning combination as a nurse,” Burns says. “She is intelligent and caring, very proactive on behalf of her patients.” To present Meyer’s scholarship, Bruce hosted a surprise party at the Cahaba Grand. On hand to present the scholarship was her former boss, Dr. Pacifico. “It was a pretty magical evening,” Burns says. GIVE SOMETHING
| C H A N G E E V E RY T H I N G