William Allan (1881–1943) was an American physician and geneticist who made pioneering studies in human genetics and hereditary diseases. He established the first course in human genetics, at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, which is now a part of

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is an academic medical center and health system located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and part of Charlotte-based Atrium Health. It is the largest employer in Forsyth County, with more than 19,220 employee ...

. At Bowman Gray School of Medicine, the first department of medical genetics in the United States was established, and William Allan was appointed as the department's first chairman. Prior to this appointment, Allan had been in private practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was nationally recognized for his early work in human and medical genetics. As chairman of this new department, William Allan also directed the nation's first research program in medical genetics, funded by the Carnegie Foundation. The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) named its highest honor for Allan in 1961. The William Allan Award is presented annually by ASHG to recognize substantial and far-reaching scientific contributions to human genetics carried out over a sustained period of scientific inquiry and productivity. An award of $25,000 and an engraved medal are presented at the ASH annual meeting.

Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome

This condition, which occurs almost exclusively in males, disrupts development from before birth. It is named eponymously for William Allan, Florence C. Dudley, and

C. Nash Herndon Claude Nash Herndon Jr. (February 23, 1916 – March 29, 1998) was an American human geneticist who taught and conducted research at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine (now the Wake Forest School of Medicine) in Winston-Salem, NC. He was the schoo ...

. Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome is a rare disorder of brain development that causes moderate to severe mental retardation and problems with movement.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allan, William Wake Forest University faculty Wake Forest University administrators American geneticists Physicians from North Carolina 1881 births 1943 deaths Place of birth missing Human geneticists