Honoring the Legacy of Dean Joy Phinizy Williams

Former Dean Joy Phinizy Williams poses in front of her portrait, painted by James Crowley and sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Medical Education, on October 25 during a dedication and unveiling ceremony at Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM).
Former Dean Joy Phinizy Williams poses in front of her portrait, painted by James Crowley and sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Medical Education, on October 25 during a dedication and unveiling ceremony at Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM).

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(November 2, 2018) — The Proctor Harvey Amphitheater was packed on the evening of October 25 as students, faculty and staff gathered for the dedication and unveiling of the portrait of former Dean Joy Phinizy Williams.

Painted by nationally recognized portrait artist James Crowley, the new portrait was sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Medical Education at Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM). Georgetown Women in Medicine (GWIM) sponsored the evening reception.   

Stephen Ray Mitchell, MD, MBA, dean for medical education, kicked off the ceremony by honoring Williams and her contributions to Georgetown through her 35 years of service.

“Dean Williams, we love you. We’re so proud of what you’ve given to us over the decades. We will try our best to live up to you,” he stated.

As the former senior associate dean for students and special programs at GUSOM, Williams is best known as “co-creator, heart and soul” of the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS) program.

She began her tenure at Georgetown in 1979, and served as assistant director in the office of minority student development before becoming assistant dean for students and special programs. She served in that role and as GEMS program director until her retirement in 2014.

Recounting Moments of Wisdom

Williams was known as a pillar of wisdom and support at GUSOM. David Taylor, M.Ed, senior associate dean for student learning and academic advising, spoke about the “moments of wisdom” that Dean Williams would often impart on students.

Stephen Ray Mitchell, David Taylor, and Joy Phinizy Williams stand side by side in a hallway next to the portrait of Williams
David Taylor, M.Ed, senior associate dean for student learning and academic advising, and Stephen Ray Mitchell, MD, MBA, dean for medical education, stand with Dean Williams and her portrait.

One of those moments can be encapsulated in the phrase “Think about that,” which was Williams’ way of encouraging students to reflect.

“Dean Williams is reminding you in that moment to ‘think about that’ because you need to consider the perspective of others. ‘Think about that’ because it’s a moment of growth for you. That’s a wisdom moment,” said Taylor.

The other moment, shared on behalf of Tamika Auguste, MD (M’00) and graduate of the GEMS program, centered on Williams’ ability to know when students needed an ear.

“Dean Williams will listen, you will share, but you don’t just talk about academics and things related to school — you talk about life,” reflected Taylor.

“When you leave, you feel encouraged because someone invested the time to listen to you.”

Taylor tied both back to the portrait, sharing that when students, faculty and staff walk by, they will see Williams reminding them to reflect.

“As we go by, we will always hear, ‘Think about that,’ so you can think about others and think about how you can continue to grow. As we go by, we’ll also hear, ‘How about a chat?’ and that chat will remind you of how much you’ve actually grown and that, yes, everything is OK.”

The Spirit of the Portrait

During her remarks, Williams recounted what it was like to work with Crowley. At one point, she shared that she had sat for about 300 photographs, a method he uses to make his subjects less self-conscious. “It works,” Williams joked. “After about 200 photographs, I didn’t care!”

Dean Joy Williams stands beside a podium at the front of an auditorium, grasping a microphone in one hand
Dean Williams gives her remarks and thanks the GUSOM community for honoring her legacy.

However, she also detailed her conversations with the artist, and how she believes it was those conversations that made a difference in the final piece.

“We talked about what was important and what being here meant,” she said. “You might think that there’s a likeness there. It goes beyond that. He somehow caught the feeling that I often had as I looked up from my desk and saw promise, potential, challenge and the future.”

Taylor echoed Williams’ comment by sharing his experience upon first seeing the portrait.

“The artist truly captured your spirit. When I saw your portrait, I went into my office and wept. I wept because the spirit comes powerfully out of the portrait. It’s truly an honor to have your legacy and spirit bless these halls every day.”

Williams will be joined on the walls next spring by the late Estelle Ramey, PhD, emeritus professor of physiology and biophysics at Georgetown. Her portrait was commissioned by GWIM as  as part of its “Women on the Walls” campaign, which aims to increase the visibility of women leaders at the medical center.

Giuliana Cortese
GUMC Communications