The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita: About the William J. Reals Gallery of Art

William J. Reals, MD

William J. Reals, MD

William J. Reals, MD (1920-2002) has been called a "...consummate physician with international credentials and a genuine artist with a camera."

Reals received his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Neb., in 1945. He was appointed Dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita in 1980, adding the additional duties of Vice Chancellor for the Wichita campus in 1988.

A World War II Army veteran, Reals returned to active duty as a U.S. Air Force captain during the Korean Conflict. He remained in the Reserve, becoming the Air Force's Senior Medical Reservist in 1979. He retired as a brigadier general in 1980.

Reals was also an avid photographer, described as "...having the Ansel Adams-like ability to look at a scene and see the photograph hiding in it. "

East Gallery

The William J. Reals Gallery of Art at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita has had ongoing exhibits since 1985. The facility is named for William J. Reals, M.D., who served as dean of the KU Medical School-Wichita from 1980 to 1990. Dr. Reals, an avid photographer, supported the arts both within and outside the medical school.

The Reals gallery consists of two separate locations: Gallery East and Gallery West. The gallery was originally opened to showcase the photography of a medical student. Purpose and scope of the gallery have grown to include enhancement of the medical school, outreach into the KUSM-W community and the community at large.

Currently, Gallery East displays artwork from the community of various media including painting, watercolor, acrylics and sculpture. Gallery West was recently added to showcase art from medical students, residents, physicians and others associated with the medical school, as well as historical exhibits.

The William J. Reals Gallery of Art displays about twelve exhibits a year. Exhibits in both the East and West Gallery last approximately two months.

William J. Reals Gallery of Art-East is located adjacent to the Farha Medical Library. William J. Reals Gallery of Art-West is located between the Kansas Health Foundation Center for Primary Care and the Daniel K. Roberts Center for Research.

The exhibits are free and open to the public. They may be viewed during regular gallery hours, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Exhibits are closed Saturday and Sunday.

West Gallery

The gallery has featured artists such as Kay Bell Wahl, a medical illustrator and Ravishankar Hirekaturer, an award-winning photographer.

"The Delicate Arch"	Ravishankar Hirekaturer was a fourth year medical student when "An Interlude With Nature - A Close Encounter of the 'Wild' Kind " was displayed. Ravi is an award-winning photographer, and prefers photographing wildlife, nature, and scenery. One of the photographs from his exhibit, "The Delicate Arch," in Arches National Park, Utah is show to the left.

Born Katherine Bell on Dec. 18, 1900, in Eastonville, Colo., the artist received a bachelor of science degree and nurse's training from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, and went on to study medical illustration at John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. In 1933, she was offered a position as medical illustrator for the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. by Harry Wahl, M.D., dean of the medical school. She married Wahl in 1940.	"Surgical Stitches and Knots"

She continued to work for the medical center until 1958. During that time, Wahl illustrated several books including The Horse and Buggy Doctor by Arthur Hertzler, M.D., in 1938, and Orr's Operation of General Surgery by Thomas G. Orr, M.D., in 1944. She subsequently served as medical illustrator for the Veteran's Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., until 1971. During her retirement years, Wahl traveled extensively and was active in the Audobon Society, the Unitarian Society, the Sierra Club, and the Grassland Heritage Foundation.

Contact the William J. Reals Gallery of Art at:
realsgallery@kumc.edu

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Page last updated: September 21, 2010
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