Karl K. Wallace Jr., M.D.

Karl K. Wallace, Jr., M.D., known as "K.K." by his friends, passed away on November 27, 2022. Born in Farmville, Virginia, K.K. grew up in Norfolk and attended Episcopal High School and Hampden-Sydney College. K.K. received his M.D. degree from the Medical College of Virginia and received specialty training in radiology from the Duke University Medical Center. In the early 1960s, he settled his growing family in Virginia Beach, where he became chief of radiology at the newly built Virginia Beach General Hospital, a position that he held for 28 years.

In his mid-fifties, K.K. embarked on a second career when he became a professor at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center. At UVa, K.K. served at various times as chief of diagnostic ultrasound, chief of chest radiology, and co-director of thoraco-abdominal imaging. As a professor, K.K. was a role model and mentor to hundreds of young radiologists. In addition to his regular teaching at UVa and before that, at Eastern Virginia Medical School, K.K. gave over 60 invited presentations and wrote or co-wrote more than 30 scientific papers and book chapters.

K.K. enjoyed a very active career in organized medicine. He led radiology in its efforts to work on national health policy such as physician payment reform and the Mammography Quality Standards Act. While a young clinician in Virginia Beach, he was president of the Virginia Beach Medical Society and the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Radiology (ACR). From 1977 to 1980, he was Speaker of the House of Delegates of the Medical Society of Virginia. K.K. served on 24 ACR Board of Chancellors committees. He also served the ACR in a number of key leadership positions, including speaker of the Council, chairman of the Board of Chancellors, and President. As ACR President from 1994-1995, K.K. testified before the Health Subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the congressional Physician Payment Review Commission.

For his outstanding service, in 1998, K.K. was awarded the Gold Medal of the American College of Radiology, the highest award in American radiology.

K.K. had the best of friends who appreciated his gentle kindness, sense of humor, curiosity, and love of reading. Most of all, K.K. was devoted to his wife of 68 years, Patricia Laughbaum Wallace of Oklahoma City. K.K. most enjoyed watching spring unfold, taking long hikes in beautiful places, boating, and spending time with family and friends.

K.K. is survived by his wife Patricia; three children, Elizabeth Rountree, John Wallace, and Patricia Wallace; his son Karl's wife Carol Mills Wallace; and John's wife Martha Elder Wallace. He is also survived by five grandchildren, K. Maxwell (wife Sasha) and Katherine Wallace, J. Benton Rountree, and Meredith and Jessie Wallace, and his brother James Wallace of Columbia, S.C.

A service honoring K.K. will take place at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 3, at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 West High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that donations be made in K.K.'s name to the Alzheimer's Foundation, the Smithsonian, or Hampden-Sydney College.