Dr. Knisely, former MUSC president, dies
William H. Knisely, Ph.D., 82, former MUSC president, died May 3 in Austin, Texas, after a pro-longed illness.
Dr.
William Knisely
He became vice president for aca-demic affairs and president-elect of MUSC in October 1975 and president in December 1975. In 1974 MUSC honored him with the Sesquicentennial Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Dr. Knisely left MUSC in 1982, accepting an appointment as executive associate dean and professor of anatomy in the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
During his time there, he also served as associate dean for the Graduate College and Research Affairs and was named senior program associate dean of the Biomedical and Health Care Ethics Program.
In 1992, a year before his retirement to Austin, Dr. Knisely received the prestigious University of Oklahoma Medical Alumni Association’s Friend of Medicine Award.
A native of Houghton, Mich., he received a bachelor's of philosophy and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Chicago in 1947 and 1950. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from MUSC in 1952 and 1954, underwent his graduate training in anatomy at the University of Brussels, and was a research fellow at the Institute Agronomique in Gembloux, Belgium.
Dr. Knisely gained much of his teaching and research experience at Duke University where he served as instructor in anatomy, research fellow in medicine, associate professor in anatomy, and assistant professor in medicine.
From 1959 to 1963, he was the first professor and chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. For the next seven years, Dr. Knisely was professor and director of the Institute of Biology and Medicine at Michigan State University, where he aided in initiating a medical school.
Before he returned to MUSC, he was vice chancellor for health affairs in the University of Texas System. During his five-year stay in Texas, the enrollment at the four health science centers and six nursing bases increased from 1,500 to nearly 6,500 students.
Dr. Knisely served as a research fellow for the American Heart Association, a senior research fellow of the U.S. Public Health Service, and as a fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society of London. He was also a visiting professor of anatomy at Banaras Hindu University in India for the World Health Organization.
His research contributions include a number of areas such as aging, dietetics, anti-cancer agents and microcirculation, and he wrote more than 40 articles.
Dr. Knisely chaired the Advisory Board of the American Dietetic Association and was a member of the Human Biology Society, Oxford, England; the Pan American Association of Anatomy; and the New York Academy of Sciences.
He held the positions of chairman, Program Planning Committee of the National Advisory Council on Education for Health Resources of the Public Health Service; commissioner, Navajo Health Authority; consultant, Department of Health, Education and Welfare; and vice chairman, the Study Commission for Dietetics.
Whether through his round table luncheons or Christmas Eve visits with hospital employees at MUSC, above all, Dr. Knisely is remembered for his kindness and commitment to the health of South Carolinians.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite; their five children, Chantal, Marc, Paul, Colette, and Phillip; and nine grandchildren.
Services were held today at the Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors without Borders at http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Dr. William Knisely was one of the most influential persons in my
career, influencing me to become an anatomist 43 years ago. Bill was always
a true friend to any organization that he was a part of because he held
other human beings in such high regard. He was more than a mentor; he always
made people believe that they could achieve, and projected confidence straight
into you. Anyone who knew Bill would say he was a true scholar in every
sense of the word, that he was so thoughtful and insightful. While he was
president, the lights often burned very late in his office. Words that
come to mind when I think of him are ethical, integrity, always help the
underdog, question the establishment, and evidence. I owe much to him.
—Robert Ogilvie, Ph.D.,
Cell Biology and Anatomy professor, Colleague
and former student
Bill Knisely was insightful in science, humanistic in philosophy,
cordial in his associations, and my good friend. I was saddened by his
long illness and
regret his passing.
—Curtis Worthington, M.D.,
Waring Historical Library, Colleague
It was my pleasure and privilege to serve as assistant for operations
to President William H. Knisely. Bill was a true scholar and gentleman
who always wore a smile. He was instrumental in continually moving MUSC
forward from 1975 to 1982, including campus expansions like the College
of Health Sciences Building, University Services Building (now the tall
portion of the Institute of Psychiatry), the First National Bank Building,
Wickliffe Faculty-Alumni House, Summerall Center occupancy (now Harborview
Towers), and planning of the Children's Hospital. Total operational
funding rose from $79 to $169 million, which included research funding
growth from $7.2 to $11.6 million, the tripling of the University Health
Sciences Foundation assets, and the initiation of the first endowed chair
fund-raising effort.
—J. Walker Coleman III,
President's Office, Colleague
Friday, May 7, 2004
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