William Andrews, MD

NORFOLK, VA — Eastern Virginia Medical School will pay tribute to a key supporter of the school’s educational mission at its 34th commencement exercises May 16.

The school will present an honorary degree to the family of the late William C. Andrews, MD, who helped establish the school’s department of obstetrics and gynecology and provided invaluable support to the department and the school even in his retirement.

Approximately 225 EVMS medical and health professions graduates will cross the stage at the Norfolk Scope arena beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16. The ceremony is open to the general public; tickets are not required.

A Norfolk native, Dr. Andrews died in December 2008.

“Dr. Andrews contributed greatly to the growth of obstetrics and gynecology in our community and was heavily involved with making this specialty one of the most important in our medical school,” says Willette L. LeHew, MD, who practiced with Dr. Andrews and his brother, Mason Andrews, MD.

EVMS Dean Gerald J. Pepe, PhD, and President Harry T. Lester lauded William Andrews for his “remarkable lifetime achievements” in his roles as a physician, educator, teacher and leader. “Clearly, Dr. Andrews combined a remarkable talent for clinical practice and research with dedication to organized medicine and academia.”

Dr. Andrews trained at New York Hospital and served a tour in the U.S. Navy before he returned to Norfolk and joined his brother in the practice now known as the Group for Women. As active members of the medical staff of what was then known as Norfolk General Hospital, the brothers and their partners trained medical residents studying obstetrics and gynecology.

The Andrews brothers were instrumental in transferring the residency program from the hospital to the medical school. Dr. William Andrews and his partners continued to demonstrate their enthusiasm for medical education through their support for Dr. Mason Andrews, who spent “countless hours” to get the medical school started, says James Via, MD, another colleague at the Group for Women.

The brothers also worked diligently to develop new ways to improve patient care. “Bill and Mason published many important medical papers during those years in the name of the medical school,” says Dr. Via.

Dr. William Andrews later became involved in the national leadership of his profession, serving as president of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and as president of the American Fertility Society.

Even in retirement, Dr. Andrews lectured widely and remained active with the school as a member of the EVMS Admissions Committee.

EVMS also will present an honorary degree to commencement speaker Paul Farmer, MD, PhD. Dr. Farmer is a Harvard physician who has won international acclaim for his efforts to bring health care to the poorest countries in the world.

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