Daniel R. Wilson MD, PhD

Dr. Wilson (Dr. Dan, Dan, Danno, Danny) seems to have sprouted from the rich black earth of rural Iowa as the seventh of eight children and fifth of five brothers in a row. He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on February 22, 1956, and raised in the nearby farm hamlet of Manson where Mother, Viola (Miller) Wilson, was a fulltime Mom and sometime public health nurse; and Father, Dr. Charles R. Wilson, the only doctor for half of Calhoun County.

Though not without headwinds and cross-currents, his childhood was one of boundless curiosity intent on understanding the world about him, both the intimate tableaux of local characters–with the freedom to ramble about and hill and dale throughout the seasons–as well as all manner of things on far horizons. Likewise, the family dinner table was an ongoing seminar of sorts as so many sibs with parents and often friends declaimed on philosophy, politics, daily affairs and all manner of topics when not interrupted by patient calls or their knocks at the door.

Dr. Wilson was a friend to all (if less so the rare mean person). He was very intelligent and eager to learn everything. He developed as a fine athlete whose varsity football teams never lost and whose sprint speed saw him become track captain. He was valedictorian, all-state in speech (poetry and prose), and an Eagle Scout.

Like all in his family, Dr. Wilson was blessed with a superb higher education–Yale Anthropology BA and Scholar of the House as well as the renowned Skull and Bones; University of Iowa MD with Honors; Harvard Internship, Residency, Fellowship and Faculty; topped off with a PhD in Anthropology from Queens’ College Cambridge, where precious daughter, Victoria, was born on Christmas Day.

Dr. Wilson’s career thereafter was a veritable waltz through every key aspect of academic medicine, evolutionary and forensic psychiatry, psychopharmacology and health systems leadership–Unit Chief (McLean/Harvard); Hospital Executive and Medical Director (Ohio DMH), Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Forensic Medicine (University of Cincinnati); Chair of Psychiatry and Co-Lead for the new Phoenix Medical Campus (Creighton); Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of Medicine and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Anthropology (University of Florida-Jacksonville); and President and University Professor, (Western University of Health Sciences).

Dr. Wilson was an internationally esteemed scholar with hundreds of publications and presentations spanning clinical psychopharmacology, forensic medicine, and evolutionary neuropsychiatry. As an astute and esteemed expert, he testified in all manner of legal cases in county, district, federal, courts-martial, and international tribunals. He was a pioneer in the field of evolutionary neuropsychiatry (e.g., Founding Chair of the World Psychiatric Association Evolution Section and President of the American Neuropsychiatric Association).

Among his great many honors, he was a Sleyster Scholar of the AMA, Falk Fellow of the APA, Rotary Foundation Scholar, Life Elector of Clare Hall Cambridge, Overseas Fellow of the Royal

Anthropological Institute of Great Britain & Ireland, Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA, Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, Life Member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Fulbright International Specialist, and Who’s Who in the World.

Aside from all other professional accomplishments, Dr. Wilson proved a superb clinician, teacher, researcher, colleague and administrator whose legacy lives on in patients mended, students taught, knowledge advanced, and institutions progressed. He was fearless in the face of challenges ranging from rectifying a notorious state asylum to rebuilding a crumbled academic department and adroitly managing a billion dollar but underfunded safety-net hospital. Later at WesternU he faced down a few discordant faculty who sought mischief and vainglory, but, ultimately, across the total faculty only one in five concurred. A year later he declined the offer of a new five-year contract to instead serve as President Emeritus and University Professor with a focus on international health education and services. He greatly enjoyed his work with Ananda in this regard.

Above all, Dr. Wilson never lost touch with his humble origins. He loved his family and friends. Three siblings have passed, Charles Wilson (Iowa), Deborah Nerness (Iowa) and Dr. Thomas Wilson (Maryland). Anne Olson (South Carolina), James Wilson (Iowa), Edward Wilson (Iowa), and Dr. Nancy Lundblad (Hawaii) live on as does beloved wife and daughter, Sandra and Dr. Victoria Wilson. He is also survived by a multitude of loving cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews, as well as innumerable friends gathered across all the years of an extraordinary life.

Most singular and exemplary is a remarkable love story spanning a fifty-three year attachment to Sandra (Davis) Wilson–his only first date– from the age of 15. They walked alongside one another at every step of their life, fulsomely shared with great gatherings of friends, exceptional world travels, but more so daily geniality and easy Sunday afternoon crosswords. The crowning achievement of this rare union was the birth of their beautiful daughter, Victoria.

Dr. Wilson passed peacefully at home with his loving wife and daughter at his side after a brave battle with a rare cancer. A Celebration of Life and burial will be held in Iowa at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to https://www.cityofhope.org/ourhope or https://www.casacolina.org/giving-support/ .

For now, and beyond, may this rare gentleman Rest in Peace.