Honoring Dr. William McLendon and a Legacy of Leadership
Throughout his 29 years in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UNC School of Medicine, John Hammond, PhD, knew that one person stood at the center of everything he learned about leadership, integrity, and building something that lasts: Dr. William “Bill” McLendon.
To honor his former vice chair and the man he calls “extraordinarily fair… real… and a wonderful chairman,” Dr. Hammond has created the William McLendon MD ’56 Resident and Fellows Enrichment and Travel Fund, supporting travel, research and academic enrichment for pathology residents and fellows.
The fund reflects a priority the department urgently feels today: at a time when budgets tighten, the opportunities that broaden young physicians’ horizons are often the first to disappear. Dr. Hammond hopes his gift will help ensure that trainees can continue exploring the conferences, institutions and experiences that expand their vision of what’s possible.
Dr. McLendon was hired by Dean Chris Fordham to help build a new clinical pathology initiative at UNC, a task he approached with creativity and determination. Working with the hospital, he established the Department of Hospital Laboratories and led significant new upgrades in personnel, technology, and clinical systems. By the time Dr. Hammond arrived in 1974, the department was poised for a new era, and he eagerly joined the effort.
“It’s fun to build things,” Dr. Hammond reflected, recalling the laboratories he rebuilt and the early information systems he helped to set up.
But for Dr. Hammond, the true mark of leadership was quieter. “The way you knew you were doing all right was you never saw Bill,” he said. “He was the fireman—he took care of things that didn’t work. If he didn’t need to come see you, it meant everything was running well.” It was a culture grounded in trust, fairness, and the shared belief that good work and good people deserved support.
Supporting residents and fellows was always important to Dr. Hammond, who remembers wanting trainees to experience other institutions and international conferences, even when travel was difficult for them to afford. His new fund ensures that future trainees will have those same opportunities to learn and grow.
Funding that allows the department’s clinical residents and fellows to present their research at national meetings can have life-changing impact. The experiences equip emerging clinicians with the exposure and connections that can accelerate their research and give meaningful new direction to their professional path.
“This gift is truly an investment in the future of pathology… and continues a unique and special culture in our department in which numerous former faculty and alumni have graciously given back,” said Russell Broaddus, MD, PhD, the Joe W. and Evelyn M. Grisham Distinguished Professor and Chair, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
“On behalf of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, we thank Dr. Hammond for his incredibly thoughtful and meaningful gift,” said Broaddus. “This gift is truly an investment in the future of pathology.”
For Dr. Hammond, giving back is a way to honor what he experienced at UNC: strong leadership, a collaborative spirit, and a department that felt like home. His story echoes what many faculty feel: the profound impact mentors, colleagues, and the institution have had on their lives and careers.
His hope is that others who have been shaped by UNC will consider honoring the people and experiences that shaped them, and help ensure the next generation receives strong support to fuel growth and opportunity.
To learn more about ways to recognize and support UNC School of Medicine faculty, please reach out to Claire Veazey, Director of Development, at [email protected].
