ISMA Past President William C. VanNess II, MD, of Anderson, died on March 24. He was 80 years old. He was affectionately known to friends and family as Bill.

After graduating from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1972, Dr. VanNess' career started in Summitville, where he practiced medicine with his father. He served as the family physician and director of the Summitville Convalescent Center from 1972 to 1997 before becoming the chief executive officer of Community Hospital of Anderson, a role he held until 2012.

Gov. Mike Pence appointed Dr. VanNess as Indiana state health commissioner, a role he held until October 2014. He returned to state government in 2017 as chief medical officer of the Indiana Department of Corrections, serving in that job until 2018. He had been Madison County’s health officer since January 2024.

Dr. VanNess served as ISMA’s 146th president in 1994. He was speaker of the House, District 8 trustee, chairman of the board and alternate delegate to the American Medical Association.

“Every time I ran into Dr. VanNess, he treated me like we were old friends, even though he was no longer in ISMA leadership by the time I arrived at the association,” Executive Vice President Julie Reed, JD, said. “I was always quite amazed how active and energetic he was. He would share stories about how he was still trying to perfect his golf game. And, of course, he was still giving back to the state and his community in various appointed roles.”

Bill Beeson, MD, of Indianapolis, was Dr. VanNess’s immediate predecessor as ISMA president, and the two were close throughout their years in ISMA.

Dr. Beeson recalled Dr. VanNess was instrumental in fostering the strong working relationship that ISMA has had over the years with the Indiana Hospital Association, and his impact on Hoosier healthcare issues as state health commissioner was immeasurable.

“We have been very fortunate to have had numerous wonderful ISMA presidents over the years, but in my professional lifetime, no one comes close to the tremendous impact Bill has made in so many areas over so many years -- and doing it with humility and with lack of fanfare,” Dr. Beeson said. “He will be sorely missed.”