William (Bill) C. Frayer, M.D.
The ophthalmology community and specially the ophthalmic pathologists will greatly miss William (Bill) C. Frayer, M.D. He passed away this morning (18 January 2012) at the age of 91. Dr. Frayer was an Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania .
Dr. Joan O’Brien, chair at Scheie Eye Institute wrote the following in her communication to the faculty today: Dr. Frayer spent more than 50 years in the Department of Ophthalmology during a critical time of medical change and ophthalmic discovery. When Dr. Frayer began his residency, slitlamp examinations were awkward and often not performed, and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy for fundus examinations had not yet been discovered. Under the Chairmanships of Dr. Francis Heed Adler, Dr. Harold G. Scheie, Dr. Myron Yanoff and Dr. Stuart Fine, Dr. Frayer witnessed and participated in breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment that forever changed the field of ophthalmology.
Dr. Frayer served as the Director of the William C. Frayer Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, and on two separate occasions served as Interim Chair of the department. After his retirement from the department, Dr. Frayer continued to attend Grand Rounds and Faculty meetings, consulting and advising faculty and residents.
Despite the many advances in technology and changes in medical administration, Dr. Frayer never lost sight of the true focus of ophthalmology. “Our daily contact with patients remains the single most gratifying part of being an ophthalmologist. No matter how elaborate our systems have become, this interaction between doctor and patient remains the most significant part of our lives.” His words, and indeed his life, are an inspiration to ophthalmologists and medical practitioners everywhere.
The memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 28th at 11:00 AM at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia , 19 South 22nd Street , Philadelphia , PA 19103 .
