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dean's departure by Kevin McKeough RENAISSANCE MAN THE COLLEGE'S Former Dean Joseph A. Flaherty saw all sides of Illinois Medicine With more than four decades at the University of Illinois behind him, Joseph A. Flaherty leaves with "tremendous positive memories" of his experiences from virtually every vantage point within the College of Medicine. I member, department head and dean. In a sense, it's not even possible to think of the college apart from him: Flaherty's countless contributions ensure that he will remain a presence here long into the future, even though he no longer will be a regular sight walking the halls of the College of Medicine building. Flaherty retired from the college following the commencement of this year's graduating class. "During his deanship, the future direction of the college and T'S HARD TO IMAGINE the College of Medicine without Joseph A. Flaherty '68, MD '71, Res '75, who spent 44 years at the University of Illinois as a student, resident, faculty medical center became crystallized," says Jerry L. Bauman, PharmD, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost. "Under his leadership, signature programs such as translational research, solid or- gan transplantation and neurosurgery grew to prominence and success. His leaving will be a loss, but we wish him well." "He began in the institution, was nurtured in the institution and turned around and gave back to the institution from a position of lead- ership. You don't see many people who have that depth of commitment to a single institution for that period of time," observes Sara Rusch, MD, Res '81, regional dean of the College of Medicine in Peoria. Flaherty grew up in Tiskilwa, Ill., a farm town with fewer than 1,000 residents 120 miles southwest of Chicago. The son of a mechanic and a doctor's receptionist, he attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a bachelor of science in psychol- ogy. "Without the low tuition and scholarship money, I might not have I L L INOI S MEDICINE | 17 PHOTO: LLOYD DEGRANE