For retired West Virginia University alum and Professor Emeritus Dr. William D. “Bill” Rose, a career in medicine has been defined by service, innovation and a commitment to teaching the next generation.
Now, he is extending his impact through a gift that will support future generations of learners in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine.
A native of Gassaway, West Virginia, Rose began his professional journey in a different field. After attending WVU Tech, he worked as an electrical engineer and taught in the discipline during the mid-1970s. But it was during that time he discovered a new calling, one that would shape the course of his life.
He started volunteering with an ambulance service in southern West Virginia, where he became an emergency medical technician and later one of the state’s first volunteer paramedics. His growing involvement in emergency medical services sparked a deep interest in prehospital care.
“I became so involved with EMS and prehospital care that I decided to change careers entirely,” Rose said.
He went on to attend medical school at WVU, entering the emerging field of emergency medicine. After completing his residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Pennsylvania, where he also served as a flight physician, Rose returned to WVU to begin a long and impactful career.
He served as an attending physician at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and as medical director of the HealthNet Aeromedical Services Morgantown base. In that role, he led teams of flight nurses and paramedics, helping deliver care to patients across the region.
Rose remained in that position for more than 20 years, maintaining a strong connection to EMS throughout his career as a WVU Medical Command physician.
“Emergency medicine is unique,” he said. “You don’t choose who comes through the door, you take all comers, from very young to very old. That uncertainty is part of the challenge.”
In addition to his work in prehospital care, Rose developed a passion for wilderness medicine, which focuses on treating patients in remote or resource-limited environments. As an early member of the Wilderness Medical Society, he contributed to the growth of the field and its educational opportunities.
Even in retirement, he continues to stay active in the field. He volunteers with the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, for which he coordinates a drone team and assists in search-and-rescue missions throughout north-central West Virginia.
His gift establishes the Dr. William D. Rose Prehospital & Wilderness Medicine Fund, which will support initiatives focused on EMS, prehospital care and wilderness medicine. The fund will provide resources for visiting lectures, conferences, research initiatives and program development.
“Emergency medicine is a specialty where we still celebrate our pioneers,” Dr. Christopher S. Goode, chair of emergency medicine for the WVU School of Medicine, said. “Bill Rose is a pioneer of emergency and prehospital medicine in West Virginia. His contributions shaped the way people get to our hospitals and receive care when they arrive. We greatly value his leadership, and with this gift, his contribution will continue far into the future.”
Rose hopes the fund will strengthen the University’s ability to train physicians who are prepared to meet patients wherever they are, whether in a hospital setting or deep in the wilderness. It ensures future generations are equipped with the skills and adaptability needed within the field.
“It’s an honor to give back to the program that has been my entire career,” he said.
Through his gift, Rose’s values will continue to shape the future of emergency medicine at WVU for years to come.
His gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.