William E. Connor, MD

Abstract

Bill Connor, a pioneer in lipid and atherosclerosis research, passed away in Portland, Oregon, on October 25 at the age of 88. This gracious and unassuming man was an innovative biomedical investigator, stimulating teacher, and compassionate physician. His scientific curiosity and courage to challenge existing concepts enabled him to make seminal contributions to lipid metabolism and its role in cardiovascular health and disease. Bill completed undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa in 1942 and served in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II. After receiving his MD degree from the University in 1950, he began postgraduate training, spent 2 years in private practice, and then completed a medical residency at the Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center. He was appointed to the University of Iowa faculty in 1956 as an Instructor in Internal Medicine and rapidly rose to the rank of Professor. Bill was a pioneer in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and achieved national recognition while at Iowa for his studies in lipid nutrition, cholesterol metabolism, and atherosclerosis. In 1975 he moved to the Oregon Health and Science University, where he maintained a vigorous and productive research program in lipids and nutrition until the time of his death. During his tenure at Iowa, Bill was Principal Investigator of a Program Project in Lipids and Thrombosis and the Arteriosclerosis Specialized Center of Research. In addition, he served as Director of the Lipid Research Clinics Program …