Would that he stay forever...

World-renowned breast cancer surgeon William C. Wood MD bade farewell

breast cancer because of his leadership and clarity of thought. “

Wood, who was honored by Winship on Aug. 20 with a day-long breast cancer symposium, is hardly going quietly into retirement. He is a professor of surgery at Emory’s medical school and professor also in the Hubert Department of Global Health in the Rollins School of Public Health. Of special meaning to Wood will be his work to train doctors in Africa to treat cancer. Wood will leave in late September to visit several sites where residents are trained and to see how he can best contribute to their medical training and education.

Among smiles, hugs and and words of good wishes, many tears fell on Friday, Aug. 19, as patients of world-renowned breast cancer surgeon William C. Wood, MD, bade farewell to the man whom many credit with saving their lives.

“He is so, so wonderful,” says Annie Miller, of Atlanta. She was one of hundreds of former patients who came to say goodbye to Wood, who retired officially Sept. 1, at a breakfast reception at the Whitehead Room at Emory University Hospital.

Patient after patient had stories to tell about the man they describe as humble, compassionate and reassuring. “That first day, I was so nervous, and he was so encouraging,” says Gloria Sykes, also of Atlanta.

While patients appreciate Wood’s gentle, encouraging manner, scientists and physicians praise his contributions to cancer therapy and his influence on the design and analysis of national clinical trials. Wood, a 1966 graduate of Harvard Medical School, was chair of surgery in the Emory University School of Medicine for 19 years. He stepped down from that post in 2010 and focused his attention on innovations in cancer therapy and clinical care. During his time at Emory and Winship Cancer Institute, where he served for a time as interim director, Wood was awarded the American Society of Clinical Oncology Statesman Award in 2007. In 2000, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, he was presented the “Celebrating Survival Award,” which went to the principal investigators “of the 10 most influential clinical trials in breast cancer in the last century.”

“His medical expertise can be looked at from two levels: his patients and his colleagues,” says Grant Carlson, MD, a Winship breast cancer surgeon. “He is an outstanding clinician who is a paragon of empathy, always listening to his patients. Every one of them adored him. On the second level, he taught his colleagues how to think critically and not to accept dogma blindly. He was instrumental in coordinating many of the clinical trials in

“I am leaving with a sense of great gratitude, and I’m happy to wear an Emory hat (in his work in Africa),” says Wood. “I look forward to it with real joy.”

Annie Miller of Atlanta says she set her alarm clock early on Aug. 19 to make sure she would not be late for a reception at Emory University Hospital to honor Dr. Wood.