For infectious disease physician Bryan Simmons, MD’76, and his wife Barbara, giving back includes honoring the institution that helped shape their lives. The couple generously established an endowed scholarship at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and endowed the Dr. and Mrs. Bryan and Barbara Simmons Chair in Infectious Diseases through their estate plan.
“We were concerned that there were not enough infectious disease physicians, even as demand for them has grown,” Bryan said, citing challenges such as pandemics and antibiotic-resistant infections.
Inspired by a gift from Bryan’s former roommate, Michael Lojek, MD’76, and meaningful experiences at Vanderbilt Reunions, the couple decided to invest in the university that played a pivotal role in Bryan’s career. When he arrived at Vanderbilt in 1972, he entered an intellectually charged environment shaped by Nobel laureates Earl W. Sutherland Jr. and Stanley Cohen. Mentors like William Schaffner, MD — a lifelong friend and colleague — made Vanderbilt formative in every sense.
Outside the classroom, Bryan built lasting friendships. A favorite memory is the six weeks he and classmate Steve Wagner, MD’76, spent camping across Alaska after commencement before beginning their medical careers. “I’ll remember that always,” he said.
After specializing in infectious diseases, Bryan joined the CDC as an epidemic intelligence service officer, helping develop guidelines and earning a commendation medal for his contributions. “My training at Vanderbilt gave me the credentials to be selected for that role.”
He later spent 32 years in private practice in Memphis. Their 1984 move to the city brought another Vanderbilt connection when Barbara unexpectedly went into labor on the way to their new home. She drove herself to Vanderbilt University Hospital, where Bryan had trained and where their son Ryan would be born.
The couple’s commitment to improving lives extends beyond medicine. In 2016, following Barbara’s bilateral knee replacements, they completed the 500-mile Camino de Santiago trail in 37 days, raising funds for nursing education at Methodist Health Systems.
Reflecting on their gifts and the impact they will have, Bryan said, “Our senior year tuition was less than $5,000. My education delivered a remarkable return on investment. Vanderbilt changed our lives — now is the time to give something back.”
— Payton Baggett Reynolds
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