Photo by Donn Jones
For infectious disease physician Bryan Simmons, MD’76, and his wife, Barbara, giving back is a way of honoring the institution that helped shape their lives.
The couple established an endowed scholarship at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, endowed the Dr. and Mrs. Bryan and Barbara Simmons Chair in Infectious Diseases through their estate plans, and established a fund to support the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt Health.
“We were concerned that there were not enough infectious disease physicians, even as demand for them has grown,” Simmons said, citing challenges such as pandemics and antibiotic-resistant infections.
Inspired by a gift from former roommate Michael Lojek, MD’76, and meaningful experiences at Vanderbilt reunions, the couple decided to support the university that played a pivotal role in Simmons’ career.
When Simmons arrived at VUSM in 1972, he entered an intellectually charged environment shaped by Nobel laureates Earl W. Sutherland Jr., MD, and Stanley Cohen, PhD. Mentors like William Schaffner, MD — a lifelong friend and colleague — made Vanderbilt formative in every sense.
Outside the classroom, Simmons enjoyed cycling in Percy Warner Park and building long-lasting friendships. A favorite memory came after commencement, when he and classmate Steve Wagner, MD’76, went camping across Alaska before beginning their medical careers.
“I’ll remember that always,” he said. “We went for six weeks and had a grand time.”
Although he considered oncology, Simmons ultimately chose to specialize in infectious diseases. After Vanderbilt, he joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. There, he helped develop CDC guidelines and earned a Commendation Medal for his contributions.
“It was fulfilling,” he said. “My training at Vanderbilt gave me the needed credentials to be selected for that role.”
Simmons later spent 32 years in private practice in Memphis. The family’s 1984 move to the city brought a surprise Vanderbilt connection when Barbara unexpectedly went into labor on the way to their new home. She drove herself to Vanderbilt University Hospital, where Simmons had trained and where their son Ryan would be born.
The couple’s commitment to service extends beyond medicine. In 2016, after a year of preparation and following Barbara Simmons’ bilateral knee replacements, they completed the 500-mile Camino de Santiago across Spain in 37 days. Along the way, they raised funds to support nursing education at Methodist Health Systems.
For the Simmons, supporting Vanderbilt is both an expression of gratitude and a vision for the future.
“If Vanderbilt is going to remain cutting-edge, additional funding sources are required,” he said. “Our senior year tuition was less than $5,000, an amount many physicians earn in a week. With that in mind, I believe my education delivered a remarkable return on investment for me and my family. Vanderbilt changed our lives. Now is the time to give something back.”