ST. LOUIS — Dr. William A. Peck, who as dean led the Washington University School of Medicine to become one of the top medical schools in the country, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, while surrounded by family at his home in ºüÀêÊÓƵ County. He was 89.
Peck served as dean of the medical school from 1989 to 2003, improving its international reputation in teaching, research and clinical practice by focusing heavily on recruiting the top researchers and staff. He was also named executive vice chancellor in 1993.
During his tenure, the medical school came to have the highest admission standards in the nation. It also became a research powerhouse, ranking third among medical schools in National Institute of Health grants, according to a Post-Dispatch story in 2003 about his retirement as dean.
The school also expanded its academic clinical practice with affiliates Barnes-Jewish and ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children’s hospitals into the second-largest in the United States.
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Under Peck’s leadership, the university opened the Center for Advanced Medicine, a 14-story building that houses state-of-the-art outpatient clinics and operating rooms. He also led the effort to create a comprehensive cancer treatment center, helping launch the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center in 1999.
, the current dean executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, lauded Peck for leading the medical school through a booming period.
“Bill Peck was at the helm at a time when the School of Medicine was on the precipice of growth and change, on multiple levels,†Perlmutter said. “He had a knack for inspiring physicians and scientists. ... He was a deeply admired mentor, and a lot of our stature as a medical school can be attributed to that.â€
University leaders told the Post-Dispatch in 2003 that Peck was a great ambassador and skillful fundraiser, able to inspire big-dollar donors to help reduce human suffering.
Peck added 64 endowed professorships to a base of 39 at the medical school.
Some said Peck’s greatest achievement was recruiting world-class talent to lead departments, which he did by offering them substantial autonomy and authority. Peck recruited 18 department heads in his 14 years.
, current head of the Department of Medicine, said Peck had a tremendous eye for talent and commitment to faculty development. He knew nearly all of the faculty by name, along with their accomplishments.
“He recruited a large number of outstanding department heads and also mentored junior and midcareer faculty into important leadership roles in science, medical administration and clinical care,†Fraser said. “He knew everyone and their story and cared deeply about the people inside the buildings.â€
After stepping down as dean, Peck established and directed the Center for Health Policy (now the ) at the university’s Institute for Public Health. He became a nationally recognized leader in health policy, particularly in the areas of rising costs and disparities in access to care.
The medical school also honored him with the creation of the , where he continued to mentor students. The program provided scholarships to medical students based on need and merit, and Peck and his wife have been major contributors.
Peck was known for his own research on bone metabolism, contributing to the understanding and treatment of osteoporosis. At age 7, Peck contracted osteomyelitis, an infectious inflammatory disease of the bone, which inspired his career.
He was born in New Britain, Connecticut, where his father, Bernard, was a general practitioner who made house calls and maintained an office next to the family’s home.
Peck graduated from Harvard College in 1955, with a degree in biochemical sciences. He earned his medical degree in 1960 from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1960.
He completed two years of residency training and a one-year fellowship at what was then Barnes Hospital in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. He then served for two years as a clinical associate at the National Institutes of Health, where he worked in the area of arthritis and metabolic diseases.
In 1963, he took over as chief resident at Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester. He eventually became the head of endocrinology.
He returned to ºüÀêÊÓƵ in 1976 as the co-chairman of the Department of Medicine at Washington University and physician-in-chief at the then Jewish Hospital.
Peck was the founding president of the . He was also a member of the , serving as that group’s president in 1984.
“Dr. Peck not only will be remembered for his impressive tenure as head of medicine at Jewish Hospital and then dean but for his major contributions to the field of medicine, particularly to the understanding of bone diseases,†Fraser said.
He was a gifted pianist and often performed at School of Medicine functions.
Peck is survived by his wife, Patricia Hearn Peck; their blended family of children, David Peck, Edward Peck, Kate Peck Nelson, Andrea Harbin Niehoff, Elizabeth Harbin and Katy Hinkley; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service open to the many who knew him will be held at Graham Chapel on the Danforth Campus at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 23.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may made to the Peck Scholars Program at the School of Medicine: Washington University c/o Advancement Services; MSC 1082-144-2555; 1 Brookings Drive, ºüÀêÊÓƵ, MO 63130.