February 24, 2020

The Department Remembers Longtime Friend, Dale L. Williams, M.D.

It is with great sadness that we share that Dale L. Williams, M.D. - a long-time member of our Development Advisory Committee, colleague, and friend - passed away on February 20, 2020. 

 

Philip Zazove, M.D.; Emily Geerlings; Dale Williams, M.D.
Dale L. Williams, M.D. (right) presents a scholarship to graduating medical student, Emily Geerlings, along with Philip Zazove, M.D. at the 2019 Scholarship and Awards Ceremony

Dr. Williams was a family physician in practice in Muskegon, Mich., when he was asked to join a group of colleagues who presented a proposal to the University of Michigan Board of Regents and the University of Michigan Medical School to develop a Department of Family Medicine. This department would encourage comprehensive, compassionate care for the entire family, as well as train future leaders in this specialty. Although the proposal met with some resistance, the group persevered and in 1978 the Department of Family Medicine was created at the University of Michigan.

Prior to this, in 1973, Dr. Williams established the Koinonia Medical Clinic (now known as the Muskegon Family Care Center) where medical care was provided without regard to patient income. Hence the term “koinonia,” which according to Dr. Williams “...is a Greek word for 'working together, helping others,'” was truly an appropriate name. He retired from family practice in Muskegon after 30 years and he and his wife, Christel, have split their time between Grand Rapids and Florida.

In 2009, Dr. Williams established the Dale L. Williams, M.D. Family Medicine Scholarship that has been awarded annually to senior medical students who match into the family medicine program at the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine. His legacy will live on in the future generations of family medicine students who will benefit from his generosity in perpetuity.