Obituary: Diana Woo, Pediatrics

A memorial service for Diana Woo (M.D.'68), Associate Professor in Clinical Pediatrics and Associate Dean of Medical Student Admissions, will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Woo died of cancer on Aug. 18 at the Hospitals. She was 54.

Known for her commitment both as a physician and as an educator, Woo spent more than 15 years of her career at the University as a pediatrician and neonatologist caring for children and critically ill premature infants at Wyler Children's Hospital.

"Diana was loved by all of us and we will mourn her loss for a long time," said Norma Wagoner, Professor in Organismal Biology & Anatomy and Dean of Students in the Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine. "Her cheerful presence, her willingness to help anyone in need and her quick wit and wonderful intelligence are great memories that she will leave with us."

As a neonatologist, Woo's primary interests were development of the newborn, ethical issues in the care of newborns and follow-up of the high-risk infant. Since 1991, she had served as Co-Director of the University's Infant & Family Program, which provides medical care and family support for extremely low birthweight children and those born with serious medical problems.

"Diana was the most outstanding clinician and had great dedication to her work and compassion for the families and children she cared for," said Kwang-sun Lee, Professor in Pediatrics and Section Chief of Neonatology. "She valued colleagues and friends and was a wonderful role model for students, contributing a great deal to the Pritzker School of Medicine."

A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Woo received her B.S. in 1963 from Mount Mary College and her M.D. in 1968 from Chicago. She completed her residency in pediatrics at St. Louis Children's Hospital in 1970. She also served as senior house officer and honorary senior registrar at the Institute of Child Health at Hammersmith Hospital and Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London, England.

Woo joined the Chicago faculty in 1971 as Assistant Professor in Pediatrics. She contributed significantly to the teaching of medical students and was appointed Associate Dean of Medical Student Admissions in 1993. In the same year, she was elected by students to become an honorary member of AOA, the medical-student honor society. She also served as the University's women's liaison officer to the American Association of Medical Colleges and headed a successful women's interest/support group at the Medical Center.

Woo served as an attending physician at various Chicago hospitals, including Wyler Children's Hospital, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Trinity Hospital, Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Palos Community Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Christ Hospital and Medical Center, and Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center. She also served as a volunteer physician at Benito Juarez Health Center in Chicago.

She had been a member of various state and regional committees, and she twice served on the Advisory Committee for the State of Illinois Early Intervention Plan. She served as co-chair of the Parents' Association at the Laboratory Schools, and she was president-elect of the Medical and Biological Sciences Alumni Council.

Woo, who was a resident of Hyde Park, is survived by her husband, Sean Duggan, and their two children, Catherine and Elizabeth; her mother, Martha Woo, and a brother, A. Stephen Woo, both of Hilo, Hawaii; and a sister, JoAnna Allen of Baltimore.

The Pediatrics Department has established the Diana Woo Memorial Fund for Excellence in Clinical Medical Education. Contributions may be sent to the University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Room C650/MC6060, Chicago, Ill. 60637.