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Cal Davis, M.D. |
John Calvin Davis III, M.D., an internal medicine faculty member at UNMC from 1961 to 1997, died Oct. 29 in Estes Park, Colo., following a prolonged illness related to heart failure. He was 82.
An Omaha native, Dr. Davis was the son and grandson of Omaha physicians. He earned his medical degree from UNMC in 1957 and completed his residency training in internal medicine and infectious disease at the University of Illinois.
See sidebar: Friends and colleagues remember Dr. Davis.
He was the fourth full-time faculty member of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine and was a highly revered clinician and teacher of medical students and residents, said Tom Tape, M.D., professor and chief of the division of general internal medicine for UNMC.
“Cal was an outstanding role model of the consummate academic physician educator,” Dr. Tape said. “He maintained an extensive personal library of medical literature. He also was a master clinician and taught me many clinical pearls.
“Each year, Cal would eagerly anticipate the latest edition of ‘Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine’ and would read the entire tome of several thousand pages from cover to cover. I will miss his wisdom, friendship and wry sense of humor.”
Dr. Davis served as chairman of the department of preventive medicine from 1965 to 1971. He also served as chief of the infectious disease section from 1969 to 1991. He held two key posts for the UNMC College of Medicine, serving as assistant dean of admissions and students (1986-95) and assistant dean for student and minority affairs (1995-97). He was named associate professor emeritus when he retired in 1997.
Although he formally retired in 1997, Dr. Davis returned to campus several months each year as a volunteer teacher.
Dr. Davis loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colo. He eventually moved to Estes Park after his retirement.
A recovering alcoholic, Dr. Davis was active at UNMC and in Colorado in providing help to others going through recovery. In Estes Park, he served five years on the board of Harmony Foundation, one of the longest running and most successful treatment programs in the world.
Survivors include a niece, Mary Lou Hansen, Council Bluffs, and her husband, Richard; and Dr. Davis’ longtime friend, Ellen Jenks of Omaha.
A memorial service was held in Estes Park on Nov. 2. He will be buried in Omaha.
I worked for Dr. Davis in his capacity as Assistant Dean for many years. He was the most kind and gentle soul I ever knew. I always knew I could go to him, at any time, for words of wisdom. I will miss him greatly.
An icon of Internal Medicine, he will be greatly missed.
Cal was my neighbor, and even though he divided his days between Estes Park and Omaha, the neighborhood has lost an esteemed member.
When I first joined the General Internal Medicine group here, I took over Dr. Davis' clinic.
For weeks, I heard from every patient how much they missed Dr Davis.
He was a hard act to follow!
– Gay Canaris
Cal was very active in supporting addiction recovery; much of what I attempt to do now to help support those with alcoholism and other drug dependencies, including health professionals, is as a result of his encouragment and support. His quiet, confident leadership will be missed. He made a difference in many lives!
I appreciated the fine obituary on my very good friend, Dr. Cal Davis. Cal and I spent many lunches together at UNMC and I was very sad to hear that he had died.
Sidney Mirvish, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer