Our deepest condolences go to Professor Emeritus Vardaman M. Buckalew Jr., M.D., and his wife, Sherry, on the tragic death of their son, Jeffrey Buckalew, his wife, Corinne, and their two young children. The family’s small plane crashed yesterday in New Jersey.
Jeffrey Buckalew, an investment banker, was well known to us as a kind-natured, generous donor to the fund that honors his father at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Buckalew headed the Section on Nephrology from 1973-2000 and was instrumental in building the Medical Center’s national reputation for excellence in nephrology. He also served as interim chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Physiology, and as Chief of Professional Services for North Carolina Baptist Hospital. He is responsible for establishing our dialysis enterprise, among many other achievements. The Vardaman M. Buckalew Jr., M.D., Professorship in Nephrology was created by Vardy’s family and former trainees in 2006 in his honor and is held by Michael V. Rocco, M.D., M.S.C.E.
Our hearts are heavy for the Buckalews at this time of great loss. Please keep these beloved friends of our Medical Center in your thoughts and prayers.
John D. McConnell, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Media Relations
Chad Campbell: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587