Passing of William H. Edwards, MD

As current and former Chairs of the Department of Pediatrics we write with profound sadness to share the news of the passing of our colleague and friend, William H. Edwards, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus at the Geisel School of Medicine. A graduate of the University of North Carolina and its School of Medicine, Dr. Edwards completed his residency in pediatrics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) and trained in neonatology at DHMC and the University of Texas-Southwestern. Bill was then immediately recruited to return to Dartmouth as Medical Director of Nursery Services at DHMC, including the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN), and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Geisel in 1979, rising to the rank of Professor in 2001.

Dr. Edwards succeeded Dr. George Little as the second Chief of Neonatology at Dartmouth in 1998 and launched the neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) in 2005. In the ICN Bill was known by all as a compassionate, consummate clinician and skilled teacher. He was appointed Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics by Dr. John Modlin in 2001.  Bill was the conscience of the department, providing trusted, wise counsel to trainees, colleagues, and institutional leadership. He served as a member of the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees for Dartmouth-Hitchcock from 2002-2008.

Among his many significant professional achievements, Dr. Edwards was a founder and longtime director of the Vermont Oxford Network (VON), one of the premier neonatal quality improvement collaboratives in the world, where he was recognized as an academically rigorous and passionate advocate for patient and family centered care. Bill’s work with VON and at Dartmouth generated advancements in neonatal care that were disseminated in publications that have saved countless newborn lives.

Dr. Edwards taught and mentored generations of Geisel students, CHaD residents, fellows, and junior faculty, and continued to do so as active emeritus faculty. With his wife Dr. Susan Edwards, a CHaD gastroenterologist for 4 decades, Bill was a neighbor and good friend to many in the Upper Valley, where he and Susan raised 2 daughters and most recently became proud grandparents.

We will share more information on how we will gather to recognize and honor Bill’s life and many contributions when that is planned.

Keith, John, and George

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George A. Little, MD
Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics and of Obstetrics & Gynecology

John F. Modlin, MD
Emertius Professor of Pediatrics and of Medicine

Keith J. Loud, MD, MSc
Chair and Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Rubin Level 5, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
phone 603.653.6042  |  fax  603.653.6050  |  HB#7450____