Donald John Innes Jr., MD

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Affiliation

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Posted on: February 4, 2022

On Sunday January 30, 2022, Dr. Donald John Innes Jr., beloved husband and father, died at the age of 70.

Donald was born on October 27, 1951, in Torrington, Conn., to Donald and Cecilia (Williams) Innes. He received his Bachelor of Science at Fairfield University in 1973 before going on to complete his medical degree at University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1977.

Dr. Innes began his nearly 40 year career at the University of Virginia in 1977, where he served as Professor of Pathology, Director of the Hematology Laboratory, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, and Associate Dean of Curriculum for the School of Medicine. Teaching medical students was an important part of Dr. Innes’s work at UVA and his excellence in this area was recognized by both his students and fellow faculty alike. He was a five time recipient of the Robert Bennett Bean award, a four time recipient of the Distinguished Professor award, a recipient of the David A. Harrison Distinguished Educator Award (the School of Medicine’s most prestigious teaching award), and the All-University Outstanding Teaching award. He was inducted to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society as well as the University of Virginia’s Raven Society.

Donald Innes and his wife, Allison were longtime art enthusiasts, and were active in the arts community during their careers at UVA. Donald was the inaugural Chair of the University of Virginia Committee on Public Art. He played an integral role in the procurement of the Lincoln Perry murals by chairing The Cabell Hall Centennial Mural Project from 1996 to 2000. It brought Donald great joy when he was able to combine his two passions of art and medicine. He was able to do this by chairing the UVA Medical Center Art Committee and helping to establish the Clinician’s Eye program with the University of Virginia Art Museum.

Dr. Donald Innes is best remembered for his undeniable love for his family, his love of art, and his life-long love of learning.

Dr. Innes is survived by his devoted wife, Allison H. Innes; his daughter, Hillary I. Strubell and husband, Richard, of Mount Sidney, Virginia; and his sister, Susan Innes and husband, Michael Kelley, of Manchester, Vermont.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clinician’s Eye program at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia.