Gerry Saul Gotterer

Gerald S. Gotterer, MD, PhD, professor of Medical Education and Administration, Emeritus, died at home on June 20 of kidney disease. He was 90. 

Dr. Gotterer, a longtime Vanderbilt faculty member and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine leader, facilitated the implementation of the clinician-educator track in the School of Medicine and played a key role in modernizing the curriculum. He clarified the faculty appointment and promotion processes and was instrumental in creating campus wide policies for conflict of interest. Remembered for his optimism and soft-spoken gracious manner, Dr. Gotterer had unshakeable integrity. He was known for quickly assessing a complex situation and offering a balanced and thoughtful approach.

Gerry was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 17,1933 to Belle Weisen and Abraham Gotterer, first generation Americans. He attended the Horace Mann School, where he loved his classics classes and played baseball. He was a graduate of Harvard College and received his medical degree from the University of Chicago. He served his internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital, then moved to Baltimore where he earned a PhD in biochemistry from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

After serving on the faculty at Johns Hopkins, and as associate dean of students, he moved to Rush University in Chicago where he was associate dean for eight years. After that, he joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1986 as professor of Medical Administration and associate dean for Academic Affairs in Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He was named senior associate dean for Faculty and Academic Administrative Affairs in 1999 and retired in 2008. 

A strong supporter of diversity in medical education at Vanderbilt, he established the initial Office of Minority Student Affairs and initiated and managed the summer Minority Medical Education Program for undergraduate minority students, a joint initiative with Fisk University. For his contributions in this area, he was awarded Vanderbilt’s Affirmative Action Award in 1995 and the Medical School’s Levi Watkins, Jr. Award in 2004. Moreover, he was recognized by Vanderbilt’s Association of Medical Women for his steadfast advocacy for women in medicine. 

With the late Dr. Denis O'Day, he worked with faculty and students in developing the Emphasis Program, which from 2004 to 2012 provided the opportunity for all medical students to undertake scholarly activities such as music or writing under the supportive mentorship of faculty during the first two years of medical school. 

The School of Medicine named one of its prestigious faculty teaching awards in his honor — the annual Gerald S. Gotterer Award for Innovation in Educational Programming That Has Proven to Be Effective. 

An annual research day was also named in his honor ― the Gerald S. Gotterer Health Professions Research Day (HPERD). Organized by the Office of Health Sciences Education through the Educator Development Program and the Office for Continuous Professional Development, the goal of HPERD is to provide an opportunity for all members of the education community to display their progress and success in health professions education innovation. 

The 16th annual event will be held on December 13, 2024.

Dr. Gotterer was a man of many interests, and he delighted in his children’s and grandchildren’s endeavors and accomplishments. Always one to help, he welcomed the chance to craft inventive projects with his children and never hesitated to begin an important home project on his own. In his words, he “loved physical work.” His artistic skill was clearly evident in his photography, sculptures, and sketches. Gerry was also a gifted woodworker, a passion he fulfilled during retirement. 

He relished family time at 180 acres of wilderness in West Virginia and almost single handedly, pre-YouTube, turned a dilapidated barn into a comfortable livable summer home. For sixty years he enjoyed baking bread, and a slice from his fresh, warm loaves was always immensely satisfying. Gerry took great pleasure in his travels to Scotland and Italy, where he quickly learned enough of the language to connect with people; his smile was his introduction.

Gerry was generous and adaptable with a kind countenance, radiant smile, and attentiveness which brought out the best in people. He found delight throughout his days especially from his family: his cherished wife of forty six years, Shelley, for whose devoted care during his last years, he was endlessly grateful; his daughters Elizabeth; Rebecca and her husband Yoni Baciu; his sons Matthew and his wife Erin; Jonathan and his wife Maggie; and eight granddaughters Ava, Ella, Adeline, Lilia, Maya, June, Adele, and Norah. He also leaves behind his beloved sister Dorothy; his nieces and nephew and their families; his dear friend Anna Jaap; and many colleagues who admired him and felt stronger in his presence. Memories of him are an inspiration and a blessing. 

“In him were united those amiable qualities which add lustre 

to the endearing names of Husband, Father, and Friend”

 Anonymous

Donations may be given in his honor to the American Kidney Fund, kidneyfund.org