Illinois Medicine

alumni profiles Featuring graduates from all four College of Medicine campuses ILLINI FAMILY TIES She teaches now at Washington University School of Medicine, but Diana Gray's U of I roots go back five generations T HE ORANGE AND BLUE of the University of Illinois run deep in the family of Diana Gray '77, MD '81, associate dean for faculty affairs at Washington University School of Medicine and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and radiology. A fifth-generation Illini, Gray and her family believe their tradition began with her great-great-grandfather, Graham Lee, who served on the founding board of the University of Illinois. Her great-grandfather, Elisha Lee, was the first person in Mercer County, Ill., to graduate from the university, and his seven children, including Gray's grandmother, Fannie Lee Gray, called the U of I their alma mater. Gray's father, A. Lee Gray, carried on the Illini tradi- tion before enlisting in the Army. So it's no surprise that Gray, who double-majored in biology and Spanish as an undergraduate, would turn to the university for both college and medical training. Growing up on a farm in Mercer County, she originally thought she wanted to be a veterinarian. "The first Caesarian I ever saw was on my brother's pure-bred Angus heifer," she says. "But in high school, I decided that I wanted to focus on hu- man medicine, where your patients could give you feedback." Gray's undergraduate years at U of I A PASSION FOR PEORIA The only woman in the first class at COM-Peoria, Joyce Wise returned and has taught there for 32 years F spurred her interest in obstetrics and gynecol- ogy. "I became intrigued with the women's health movement and with the concept of women taking more ownership over their health care," she says. After graduating from medical school in 1981, Gray completed a Univer- Diana Gray sity of Illinois flexible internship, then accepted a second-year residency posi- tion in obstetrics and gynecology at the place she has called home for the last 30 years—Washington University School of Medicine. Gray then was asked to join the faculty, later becoming the director of ultrasound and genetics and professor of obstetrics and gynecology and radiology. During her tenure, Gray has completed clinical research in the methods of prenatal diagnosis for fetal genetic problems—but her primary focus has been on direct outpatient care for prenatal diagnoses. "Being part of an academic faculty is the best of all worlds," she says. "It allows me to be on the cutting- edge of research and patient care while allowing me to help shape the physi- cians and medical scientists of tomorrow." In 2002, Gray took on a new role as associate dean, working to enhance the quality of faculty life and careers. She launched an orientation program and reception to welcome new faculty, developed a faculty recognition program, and oversees faculty career development and diversity initiatives, including the development of equitable promotion and pay policies for women and minorities. "In my role, I am surrounded by brilliant and caring colleagues," Gray says. "There are challenges ahead with health care reform and financing that will require creative and insightful leadership, but [Washington University] pro- vides a wonderful, stimulating environment." Every day, when she sets foot in her office, Gray sees a visible reminder of her Illini family history—her great-uncle Mylo Lee's diploma from the College of Medicine Class of 1909. "The University of Illinois gave me an excellent and affordable foundation to pursue a very fulfilling career," she says. "My family has a great reverence for the school. It's in our blood." — Alice Patenaude ORTY YEARS AGO this fall, the College of Medicine in Peoria rolled out the welcome mat for its first students. After beginning their medical school careers on the Chicago campus, that cohort of 18 students arrived in Peoria in September 1971. "The community wanted the medical school here, and we felt very welcomed," says Joyce Wise '69, MD '73, the only woman in the Peoria campus' first graduating class. "Everyone was excited about the new school, and the teachers were very dedicated. Because of our class size, we had a lot of one-on-one training." Medical school proved to be a turning point in Wise's personal life as Joyce Wise well. It was there that she met her husband, Kent, a fellow member of that first class. After graduation, Wise chose pediatric endocrinology as her specialty, completing her residency in pediatrics at Children's Memorial Hospital and a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Duke University medical school before joining the faculty there for a year. When her husband completed his fellowship in cardiology in North Carolina, the couple knew it was time to find a location where they could both practice their specialties. "We decided to return to Peoria," says Wise. "It's a great place to live and a great place to practice medicine. It's an undiscovered gem in many ways." She joined the faculty of the College of Medicine in 1980, serving as associate professor of clinical pediatrics, endocrinology and metabolism. "Working at the university has been a great experience," Wise says. "We don't just teach; we are taught as well. I tell my students that learning is a lifelong process." In addition to her love of teaching medical students, Wise's passion for treating children with endocrine disorders was the impetus to launch the Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center in 1980. The only diabetes care center in the state outside of Chicago, this comprehensive community service program now serves more than 800 children. "Caring for diabetes is very complicated for families and requires a team approach," explains Wise. "The support of the College of Medicine at Peoria and the Children's Hospital of Illinois at Saint Francis Medical Center has enabled us to build a very fine diabetes team consisting of physicians, nurse educators, dietitians and social workers." After a career spanning more than three decades, Wise is looking forward to retirement this summer. She hopes to improve her golf game and learn to speak Spanish, but what she's looking forward to most is the luxury of exploring things as they come up. "It will be nice not to have a schedule every day," she says. Wise and her husband of 40 years might not have dreamed they would be part of what is now a tradition of serving the surrounding com- munity after graduation. In fact, more than 40 percent of the College of Medicine at Peoria graduates have chosen to stay and practice in Illinois. Wise looks back fondly on her decision to return to her roots. "Medical education and patient care have been the backbone of the medical milieu in Peoria for many years," she says. "I'm proud to have been a part of that." — Alice Patenaude 38 | FALL 2012

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