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William "Bill" Wood

William Wood Obituary

WOOD, Dr. William "Bill"

May 3, 1940 - August 18, 2024

Dr. William C. Wood "Bill" was a world-renowned surgical oncologist, devoted mentor, Bible teacher and servant leader, who has gone to be with the Lord.

He was a devoted husband and father with a passion for his faith and a life dedicated to following Jesus.

Bill was internationally known for his outstanding contributions to cancer therapy, most specifically breast cancer treatment, and the design and meta-analysis of conceptually driven clinical trials.

A 1966 medical graduate of Harvard Medical School, Bill served as both Medical Director of the Cancer Center and Chief of Surgical Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

In 1991, he was recruited by Emory University and served as the J.B. Whitehead Professor and Chair of the Emory Department of Surgery in Atlanta until his retirement in 2009.

From 2012 to 2021 he served as the Academic Dean of the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, where his passion for Jesus, and advancing surgical care and education transformed countless lives across Africa. He made significant contributions to the development of the PAACS curriculum, leaving a lasting impact on the training of future surgeons.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his three children, and seven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PAACS.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sep. 1, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for William Wood

20 Entries

Palma Daly

July 3, 2025

Dear Judy, I did not realize that Bill had passed away. I´m so sorry I´m late in writing saying how sorry I am for your loss. I´m the wife of Dr. John Daly. John and Bill were close colleagues and friends. John thought the world of Bill and we always enjoyed seeing you both at medical conferences. I lost John a little over four years ago. He just slipped and fell and hit his head on our bathroom floor at our home on the Mainline of Philly. It´s so difficult not to have them in our lives. I was born and grew up in Georgia, outside of Atlanta. My sister is having some health issues and I wanted her to go to Emory to see if they can resolve what is wrong with her. I knew that Bill had retired from Chair at Emory, but I googled him to look him up to see if he could advise me on who to contact there. That´s when I discovered that he had passed away last August. I was so shocked and saddened. I send you and your family, my deepest sympathy and you´re in my thoughts and prayers as you grieve the loss of your husband, a great surgeon and a great man. Bill and John were in a league of their own when it came to being world renowned surgical oncologists. They saved so many lives and helped so many people in their medical careers.
All the best with your journey of grief and learning to live in this world without Bill. I´m sure he´s watching over you from heaven.
I get signs often that John is watching over me.
Sincerely,
Palma Daly,

Charlie and Marabel Morgan

May 16, 2025

Judy, My granddaughter just started her first nursing job at Emory Hospital - in oncology ward. I looked up Bill online and saw that he had gone to be with the Lord last year. Marabel and I are so sad to hear that, but pray God's blessing on you. What a marvelous man of God was Bill. He blessed so many, including us. We are still in Miami, if we can do anything for you. Much love, Charlie Morgan

Periasamy Selvaraj

April 16, 2025

I am very sad to hear the news. Dr. Wood was a wonderful person. He was very passionate about breast cancer research and treatment. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in breast cancer research and treatment. He was instrumental in starting breast cancer research in my lab at Emory University! I can't forget his smiling face and I will miss his guidance and advice big time. My heartfelt condolences to the family!

Michael Ross

March 29, 2025

Bill was a wonderful teacher and friend. I will always remember him at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Ma.

Margaret Tokunaga

March 14, 2025

Dr. Wood was my breast cancer surgeon at Emory in 2004. I consider that surgery, along with chemo and radiation, as life-saving. I am a 20 year survivor and I was able to finish raising my son and to see him graduate from college and grow into adulthood.

I clearly remember Dr. Wood putting his hands on my feet and silently praying for me before my second surgery when I was in pre-op.

His faith was such an integral part of his life and work. I give God thanks for this remarkable man.

My sympathy goes out to his family.

Maria DeMarco

January 16, 2025

I am so sorry to hear of your passing...I am here now in the cafeteria of MGH...I think of you all the time and how you much you mean to me as my cancer doctor...I know you are reading this now through the love of Jesus...you are home now Rest in Peace to the Best caring wonderful Doctor who saved my life through Breast Cancer...till we meet again

Patti Long

December 9, 2024

My heart is broken by the news today of Bill Wood's passing. I was his AA in his Chairman's Office to the Department of Surgery at Emory University. My years with him were priceless

Sheila Mihalovits

October 4, 2024

I write to salute the Dr. William C. Wood's contribution to the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. When Dr. Wood came to Atlanta he was a well respected leader of innovation in the treatment of breast cancer. He was renowned nationally and internationally. He brought attention to the Winship Cancer Center and worked diligently to achieve NCI Comprehensive designation. The result of his thoughtful leadership are real and visible. New cancer laboratories have been established and funded. Winship Cancer Centers with the most up to date facilities are at Emory St. Joseph, the Midtown Winship Cancer Center as well as the Clifton Avenue Winship. Most significantly, the most talented and knowledgeable physicians and researchers have come to live and work here.

I had the privilege to work with Dr. Wood and greatly admired his humility and good judgment.

My best wishes to Judy, their children, and grandchildren. I was deeply saddened to see an obituary for this truly good person. Sheila Mihalovits

Suzan Rhodes

October 2, 2024

I have only just heard of Bills death. I worked for Bill many years and thought him the most gentle, kind and brilliant doctor I have ever known. You are missed. But oh my, the greeting he must have had walking into the embrace of Jesus whom he adored. I shall look forward to a wonderful reunion with a dear friend when I cross over.
To Bills family... thank you for sharing this wonderful man with the rest of us. His love for Judy was so sweet.

God bless Bills family,continue to grow, break boundaries and love all as your dad did.

Suzan Rhodes

George Hardman

September 24, 2024

Dear Judy
I have many fond memories of time spent will Bill at HMS, and later with both of you while you lived in Boston. I always admired him, and felt deeply honored to have known him.
I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing.
My thoughts are with you.

Virginia Miller

September 22, 2024

Dr. Bill Wood helped save my life when as a young mother of toddlers, I had breast cancer. I am so fortunate to have had his care and the follow up treatment at MGH in Boston so that I could live with my husband to raise our two sons and now know our two grandsons. God bless Dr. Wood and his extended family.

Brian and Barbara Nash

September 21, 2024

Bill had an immeasurable impact on our lives and the lives of our three children. He was the most gracious and Grace-filled man we have ever known. He was a great Bible teacher, and we give thanks for a man who one would certainly say showed us his faith by his works. We all loved him and look forward to seeing him again.

Harold Jacobi

September 20, 2024

Bill Wood was a wonderful, exuberant follower of Jesus Christ. Bill had an uncanny sense of wisdom that came from his every day reliance on the Word of God- Bill was the embodiment of the caring and loving father who practiced his chosen field of medicine to make the world better. He traveled extensively to bring innovative medical teachings and healings to people in China, Uganda and the world. His faith in a loving God who created us was active in his life and many others each and every day was contagious and a model for all who knew him. THANK YOU GOD FOR BILL AND HIS LIFE, HIS WORK AND HIS LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST. Rink and Wendy Jacobi

Harold Jacobi

September 20, 2024

Bill Wood was a wonderful, exuberant follower of Jesus Christ. Bill had an uncanny sense of wisdom that came from his every day reliance on the Word of God- Bill was the embodiment of the caring and loving father who practiced his chosen field of medicine to make the world a better. He traveled extensively to bring innovative medical teachings and healings to people in China, Uganda and the world. His faith in a loving God who created us was active in our ives each and every day. THANK YOU GOD FOR BILL AND HIS LIFE, HIS WORK AND HIS LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.

Daniel Hayes

September 19, 2024

Dear Judy: We have not been in touch for a few years, but I think you know how much I respected and appreciated all Bill did for thhe field, for our patients, and for me, personally. He was very supportive and served as a sounding board for me as I made career decisions when we were all in Boston, and then afternwards within the cooperative groups (especially the CALGB) and in ASCO. My deepest sympathies to you and your wonderful family. Dan Hayes (DFCI 1982-'96)

Jeannine Pittman Kott

September 16, 2024

Dear Judy, I was do sad to hear the news about Bill. What an outstanding career he had, but more important was his love for his Lord, his love for you , snd his love for the kids. I will be praying for you and the kids. With love, Jeannine

Kim Jones

September 4, 2024

Dr. Wood was my doctor at Emory in 2004 and It saddens me to read of his passing. He was a very humble and gracious man who had the most gentle bedside manner, kind smile and a servants heart. He offered to pray with me several times before surgery and this calmed me immediately. I trusted him.
Prayers going out to his family and colleagues. The world was a better place with Dr. Wood in it and my hope is that more physician´s aspire to be more like Dr. Wood.

Marge Anderson

September 2, 2024

I worked with Dr. Wood as a physician assistant at Emory University. I am sending love to Judy and his sons.

Herbert C Hoover, Jr., MD

September 2, 2024

I had the privilege of working as Bill´s partner in Surgical Oncology at the MGH from 1986 to 1991. He was a dedicated Christian, husband, father and a superb clinician and surgeon. His efforts in performing God´s work in and outside of the hospital were well beyond the ordinary and were commendable. Indeed, as I stated at his leaving MGH ceremony, he was a man for all seasons and as a cancer surgeon, a man for all lesions! He will be greatly missed and forever appreciated! Judy and his family have Sherrill´s and my sincere condolences.

Elwood (Woody) Spackman

September 1, 2024

Bill and I co-chaired the Ethics Committee at Emory Hospital for many years. I addition to his medical xpertize, he brought his value of each individual to the table along with his gentle and thoughtful spirit.

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