Dr. William Hendee

From Radiological Sciences

William R. Hendee retired in 2006 as dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin in order to devote more time to editing a leading scientific journal.

William R. Hendee, PhD, was President of the MCW Research Foundation and Dean of the College's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and received the American Roentgen Ray Society's (ARRS) 2005 Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Radiology. He is one of only three recipients of the award this year, which was presented at the ARRS annual meeting in New Orleans May 18, 2005. Dr. Hendee came to the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1991 from the American Medical Association, where he was vice president for science and technology.

Dr. Hendee was also a Professor in the Medical College's Health Policy Institute (Bioethics) and the Departments of Radiation Oncology, Biophysics and of Radiology, and is Vice Chairman for Research in Radiology.

Hendee has been outspoken advocate for building a biotechnology industry in southeastern Wisconsin. With the Medical College, he has served as dean of the Graduate School of biomedical Sciences since January of 1995, overseeing a three-fold increase in enrollment and the establishment of new graduate programs in bio and medical informatics, healthcare technologies management, and an interdisciplinary program for entering PhD students.

In addition to his work with TechStar, Hendee has worked to build the Biomedical Technology Alliance, which was formed to promote collaboration between academic research institutions and industry in southeastern Wisconsin. In May, the alliance announced $1 million in grants for collaborative research among five colleges in the region.

Hendee said he would continue to support those organizations, but made it clear the torch has passed. "I won't be as involved in regional activities as I have in the past," he said, "but those organizations are under strong leadership."

He is an internationally renowned radiation physicist, and has held unique positions in radiology and nuclear medicine usually only held by physicians. This includes serving as Chairman of Radiology at the University of Colorado and as the first non-physician president of the American Board of Radiology (2002-2004). He is also a representative from Radiology to the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Hendee, who now devotes his professional energies to journal, Medical Physics, and to a new radiation and oncology initiative he's orchestrating. Medical Physics is a leading international physics and biophysics journal that requires Hendee to read and process manuscripts on a daily basis. "I want to spend more time editing," he said, "and I will work on that for several more years."

Meanwhile, the radiation and oncology initiative, a national effort, is designed to enhance the understanding physicians have of the underlying science behind the medical imaging devices they use. It will involve the many different science and professional organizations related to medical imaging.

Hendee also might also teach classes at the Medical College, but he's really looking forward to devoting time to interests outside the realm of science, including classical opera, the works of modern playwrights, and his seven grandchildren.

He has authored or co-authored more than 370 scientific articles and 25 books, and is editor of Medical Physics, a leading journal of biophysics. His research focus is on diagnostic imaging, with an emphasis on visual perception and cognition, and on technology assessment in medicine.

Dr. Hendee was awarded his PhD in physics from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He received his undergraduate degree from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., where he was subsequently awarded an honorary doctorate in science.