West Virginia’s first pediatric urologist Dr. William Fred Tarry remembered

Dr. William Fred Tarry, who joined the School of Medicine as a general surgery and urology resident in 1982 and became West Virginia's first pediatric urologist, died on February 8, 2018.

Dr. Tarry served at WVU until 2009 and then went on to work at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston with his wife Dr. Susan Tarry, a 2010 graduate of the WVU Urology residency program. 

“Dr. Tarry was a fabulous surgeon and brought complex pediatric urologic procedures to West Virginia," Stanley Zaslau, MD, chair of the Department of Urology, said. "Every case he performed here was a first for the state. Patients would travel for many hours to receive care here. He was a mentor to me as I was getting started at WVU in 2001, and I will miss his wisdom, wit and friendship."

Dr. Tarry received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1977. He completed his general surgery and urology residency at WVU in 1982 and a fellowship in pediatric urology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 1983. He returned to WVU in 1983 to develop a comprehensive clinical program in pediatric urology.

Dr. Tarry developed specialized clinics at WVU in the areas of Myelomeningocele, Enuresis/Voiding Dysfunction, Kidney Stone Disease and Disorders of Sexual Differentiation. He performed the first pediatric urologic laparoscopic and hypospadias procedures at WVU and also maintained an active program in renal transplantation. 

“I was so proud of Bill for selecting pediatric urology as his calling," Stanley Kandzari, MD, professor, former chair and program director of the Department, said. "It was a privilege to teach and train him. Bill loved to teach his students and residents, and his passion and dedication to being a meticulous surgeon will always live on here at WVU.”  

The Department of Urology has established the Dr. William Fred Tarry Lectureship in Pediatric Urology. This endowed fund will perpetuate Dr. Tarry’s passion and energy for pediatric urology. The fund will allow for an annual lectureship in pediatric urology as well as for clinical, teaching and research efforts to promote pediatric urologic education in West Virginia. Please contact Clare Flanagan at cmflanagan@hsc.wvu.edu or 304-293-0788 for more details.  You may make your gift online or to the WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, 7thFloor, Morgantown, WV 26507.