Former Baylor College of Medicine President Dr. William Butler dies at 85

William Butler, MD, former president of Houston-based Baylor College of Medicine, died of pancreatic cancer at his home Sept. 22, according to a statement on the school's website.

Here are three things to know about Dr. Butler.

1. Dr. Butler, 85, was the second individual to lead the medical school as president.

2. He joined in the institution as a faculty member in 1966 and quickly established the school's immunology program. He also led BCM's department of microbiology and immunology until 1977 when he became dean of admissions, and executive vice president and dean.

3. During Dr. Butler's tenure, the medical school received a $10 million, five-year grant to become one of six facilities involved in the Human Genome Project, an international research effort to understand and map genes.

"Dr. Butler led Baylor through a time of unprecedented growth and recruited superb scientists from around the country to establish Baylor as a research powerhouse. … [He] dedicated his career to making Baylor the very best institution it could be and never wavered in his support of the school. His leadership at Baylor leaves a lasting impact on education, research and patient care," Paul Klotman, MD, president, CEO and executive dean of Baylor College of Medicine, said in a letter to staff obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

 

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