Rick Gillis passed away suddenly on Oct. 21 at his home in Arlington—a deep loss for his family and for all of us as a community. Rick, who was executive director of curriculum programs in the Program in Medical Education, was a valued colleague and friend to so many of us, and his sudden and untimely passing at age 58 leaves us in a state of disbelief, shock and deep sadness. It is so difficult to understand how someone so vibrant—with whom many of us spoke the day before and even the same day—could be gone; his absence leaves a deep void.
As we pause to remember this colleague and friend to so many, we can look back at his extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to the education mission at HMS. Rick had been at HMS since he was hired to work on the New Pathway in 1984. In the role he executed so masterfully and effectively, he was responsible for running all aspects of the curriculum. Not surprisingly, when we went through our recent LCME accreditation review, the Office of Curriculum Services, which Rick oversaw, was singled out for special recognition and praise.
Rick was an invaluable colleague and resource for our course directors and numerous faculty, for the many staff at HMS with whom he worked for nearly 30 years, and, personally, for both of us in our oversight of the Program in Medical Education. For all of us who have benefitted from decades of his wisdom and passion, his loss is immeasurable, both personally and professionally.
Memorial services were held on Oct. 25 and 26.
