Michael E. Williams

He’s been named one of the top doctors in America on several prestigious lists, yet Dr. Michael E. Williams attributes part of his success to the strong foundation provided by public education. “Attending school in southwest Ohio was a great stroke of luck, as East Clinton Local (Clinton) provided a cadre of dedicated teachers who reflected the rural community’s values of hard work, self-discipline and consideration for others,” Williams said. Williams graduated from East Clinton High School in 1969, received his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University, went on to earn his doctor of medicine from the University of Cincinnati and a master of science from Harvard University. He completed his internal medicine residency, chief residency and fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Va., where he joined the faculty in 1986. He currently serves as chief of the Hematologic Malignancies Section. Williams’ clinical and research interests are focused in lymphoma and leukemia, including novel treatment approaches for blood-borne cancers. He has written more than 150 published scientific articles and reviews, and serves on the scientific advisory boards of the Lymphoma Research Foundation and European Mantle Cell Lymphoma Network. He has chaired a number of scientific and educational programs for the American Society of Hematology and American Society of Clinical Oncology, and is the current chair of the Hematology Subspecialty Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. “It’s a rare day in my professional life where I’m not called to draw upon the lessons learned (in public schools), and I remain grateful that those individuals set me on a path to continued — and continuing — education. Most importantly, East Clinton is where my wife, Rebecca Custis, and I first met. We’re happily celebrating our 40th anniversary this year.”