PILLARS PROFILE
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or more than 40 years, John Wheeler, M.D. ’69, D.M.D., has been tirelessly treating Vermonters in need of reconstructive surgery. The Rutland-based solo plastic surgeon is known in medical circles for his willingness to come to the bedside of patients in emergency rooms throughout southern Vermont any time, day or night. It’s not surprising his selfless nature has turned to helping future physicians. Dr. Wheeler recently celebrated his 45th Reunion and became a Pillars Society member by endowing a scholarship at Albany Medical College with a blended gift of income and retirement assets. “Albany Medical College provided me with a solid foundation which led to a successful career in medicine. I want today’s students to experience what I had the privilege of doing these past many years,” he said. “I know it can be tough to afford medical school and to take on its rigorous schedule. It is certainly John Wheeler, M.D. ’69 worth it, and I am eager to help.” Dr. Wheeler, who is also a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, established Wheeler Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1976. By doing so he had become the first plastic surgeon in southern Vermont, following in the footsteps of his father, who was that area’s first trained general surgeon, practicing there for 50 years. Dr. Wheeler has made helping people a priority not only through his practice but with his work as a community educator. After seeing the same preventable injuries time and again, he began making presentations on preventable injuries, first in New England and, eventually, at national and international conferences. “I saw patients who lost eyes and had deep injuries because of improper use of chain saws. I saw hand injuries from snow blowers and facial and head injuries from branches falling on people who were cutting down trees. One time, I saw three people in one week from the same company with the same injuries from the same industrial machine,” he said. “I wanted to spread the word about injury prevention.” Busy, even as he begins retirement, Dr. Wheeler said he was eager to make a gift to the Medical College, and it was easy. He worked through his investment advisor to create the scholarship by combining an outright gift with a rollover from his individual retirement account. As a member of the Vermont Medical Society, his practice aligned with the society’s credo: “not for ourselves do we labor.” He said during his retirement he will continue to give talks and to spend more time with his wife, two siblings, three children and six grandchildren. On a tour of the facility during Reunion weekend, Dr. Wheeler knew he did the right thing. “The school and training programs are just as excellent as I remembered and even better. I was very impressed with the new Patient Pavilion. My gift will help students for years to come. I hope my fellow alumni will consider the idea as well.”
28 alumni.amc.edu
PILLARS
Helping Others Is His Priority
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John Wheeler, M.D. ’69