Dean Nancy Andrews, MD, PhD, wrote to the faculty of the School of Medicine today to share the news that William H. Kane, MD, PhD, passed away on April 30 after a long battle with cancer.
Dr. Kane was an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology with a secondary appointment in Pathology. He served as the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program Director for many years.
Bill was an accomplished researcher, clinician, and educator, who always demonstrated his efficient, effective, scholarly approach to patient care and to educating the next generation of academic hematologists.Kane's clinical interests focused on the diagnosis and management of patients with bleeding disorders, particularly hemophilia and von Willebrand disease. His research interest was coagulation factor V, and he made numerous contributions to our understanding of how this blood clotting protein was essential for normal hemostasis. His status as a role model to physicians, teachers and mentors, was recognized last year with the School's Palumbo Award. Kane thoroughly enjoyed working with the medical students, residents and fellows who rotated through his outpatient clinic and with him when he was attending on the inpatient consult service. Marilyn Telen, MD, chief of the Division of Hematology, said this about Kane:
Bill was a superb physician and a superb scientist. He thought broadly and deeply, and that showed in everything he did. He also never forgot the human dimension of each problem. These qualities also made him a wonderful mentor and training program director. He will be missed but not forgotten by those who knew him and worked with him.Kane started his career as an MD/PhD student followed by internship and residency at Washington University in St. Louis. He then completed his fellowship and post-doctoral training in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He joined the Duke faculty in 1988. In 1989, he was selected as a Searle Scholar in recognition of his outstanding promise as a researcher in the biomedical sciences. [box]A celebration of Bill's life will be held at the Kane home on Thursday, May 17th beginning at 4:30 p.m. The body has been cremated; ashes will be scattered at the Sarah P. Duke Memorial Garden. Online condolences may be posted here (select "Obituaries") and memorial gifts may be made to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.[/box] [toggle title_open="Close Me" title_closed="Read the obituary" hide="yes" border="yes" style="default" excerpt_length="0" read_more_text="Read More" read_less_text="Read Less" include_excerpt_html="no"]William "Bill" Harrison Kane, 56, of Durham died Monday, April 30, 2012, at his home. Death was due to complications of neuroendocrine cancer and carcinoid syndrome. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at the Kane home on Thursday, May 17th beginning at 4:30 p.m. The body has been cremated; ashes will be scattered at the Sarah P. Duke Memorial Garden. Online condolences may be sent to: http://www.hallwynne.com, Select "Obituaries". Memorials may be made to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research: http://www.jimmyv.org/ William Harrison Kane was born October 24, 1955 in Glen Cove, New York, the son of Harrison Kane and Mary Elizabeth Rist. He attended University High School in Iowa City. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry with honors and highest distinction in 1976. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa during his junior year and was recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa memorial scholarship. He entered the Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University in St. Louis in 1976. In 1982 he was awarded the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Washington University. Following graduation he served at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis as an Intern and Resident in Internal Medicine and a Fellow in Hematology-Oncology. In 1985 he joined the Department of Biochemistry and Division of Hematology at the University of Washington in Seattle as a senior post-doctoral fellow. Bill joined the faculty in the Division of Hematology at Duke University Medical Center in 1988. He conducted research on the biochemistry and molecular biology of blood clotting factor V funded by the National Institutes of Health. He was named a Searle Scholar by the Chicago Community Trust and an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. He was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 1995. His clinical duties were focused on the care of patients with bleeding and clotting disorders. He served as Director of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program for a number of years and was the recipient of the Wendell F. Rosse M.D. Teaching Award in 2010 and the Leonard Palumbo Jr., MD, Faculty Achievement Award for dedication to compassionate patient care and excellence in the teaching and mentoring of young physicians in 2011. Bill married the love of his life, Margaret (Margo) Erin McKinney, of Lawrence, Kansas, June 23, 1979, in Lawrence. He is survived by his wife, one daughter and son-in-law, Mary (Molly) Margaret Kane Frommer and Scott Jay Frommer of Durham NC, and one son, William Curtis Kane of Raleigh, NC. Surviving are one sister Anne Elizabeth Kane of Merion, PA and one brother, Charles Lewis Kane of Narberth, PA. Also surviving are father-in-law Ross E. McKinney Sr. and mother-in-law Margie C. McKinney of Chapel Hill, NC, brother-in-laws Dr. Ross E. McKinney Jr. and William S. McKinney of Durham, NC and Portland, OR, sister-in-law Susanne C. McKinney of Durham, NC and a host of nieces, nephews and grand-nephews. Bill was a devoted husband and father. He enjoyed cooking and fine dining with his wife, friends and the Global Gourmet cooking group. He was an avid runner, participating in local road races until his illness. He also was an enthusiastic supporter of his son's and daughter's athletic teams at the youth, club and varsity levels. Bill participated in the 1969 moratorium against the war in Vietnam at age 13 and was later transfixed by the Watergate hearings. Honesty, integrity and transparency were values which he would aspire to throughout his life. He had a good sense of humor and had a very diverse group of friends. Finally, Bill thanks his many patients and colleagues for providing invaluable lessons in medicine, life and death. Without the support of Aegis Home Care, especially provided by Purity Kimaiyo and Caleb Chengeta and numerous family, friends and neighbors, Bill's desire to remain at home would not have been accomplished. Margo thanks the staff of Duke Medicine for their support throughout Bill's illness. In particular she thanks Dr. Jon Gockerman and Heather Brumbaugh in the Duke Cancer Institute for their meticulous and thoughtful care. May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. The Kane family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham. Online memorials: www.hallwynne.com Select obituaries.[/toggle]