Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology: William Hendee (1938

Friday, September 25, 2026

William Hendee (1938–2026)

The textbook Medical Imaging Physics superimposed on the cover of Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology.

Medical Imaging Physics,
by William Hendee and E. Russell Ritenour.

I recently learned that William Hendee died on March 14, 2026 at the age of 88. The book Medical Imaging Physics, by Hendee and E. Russell Ritenour, had a big impact on Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology. Russ Hobbie and I cite Medical Imaging Physics in IPMB several times in the chapters on ultrasound and on medical x-rays. In fact, we even reproduce some of the figures from their book.

Another way Hendee influenced IPMB is by developing the “Point/Counterpoint” series in the journal Medical Physics. He was the first editor of point/counterpoint articles, in charge of them from 1998 to 2005. Russ and I cite several of these articles, which are wonderful tools to teach students about current controversies in medical physics. We only cite point/counterpoint articles that were moderated by Hendee’s successor, Colin Orton, but when I taught medical physics at Oakland University, every Friday we would end class with a discussion of one pint/counterpoint article, many of them moderated by Hendee. They’re such an important contribution to medical physics education. Hendee was editor-in-chief of the entire journal Medical Physics from 1985–2004.

Often in this blog I discuss how physicists make the transition from physics to biology or medicine. Hendee tells his story in an interview with the American Society for Radiation Oncology. He grew up near Jackson, Mississippi and became interested in physics because of an inspiring high school physics teacher. He obtained a bachelors degree in physics from Millsaps College, and then went to Vanderbilt (where I got my PhD) on an Atomic Energy Commission fellowship. He worked with with Robert Lagemann in acoustics (from 1995–1998 I was the Robert T. Lagemann Assistant Professor of Living State Physics). When his wife became pregnant, his meager fellowship salary could not support a family. At a conference, he saw a advertisement for a medical physics fellowship with more pay at the University of Texas. He talked to the person who had posted the ad and his first question was “what is medical physics?” The rest is history, as he accepted the position, went to Texas, and got his PhD in 1962. I guess sometimes the transition from physics to medicine is motivated in part by financial considerations.

Other interesting facts about Hendee:

He was in the Marine Corps Reserves from 1956 to 1963.
After his PhD, he returned to Millsaps College on the faculty, in part to participate in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. He eventually left Millsaps because of a disagreement about the dean’s efforts to identify homosexuals on the faculty.
He was at the University of Colorado for 20 years, and then was a dean at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
He received many awards, including from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (Coolidge Award), the American Roentgen Ray Society (Gold Medal), the Radiological Society of North America (Gold Medal), the International Organization for Medical Physics (Harald Johns Medal), and the Health Physics Society (Elda Anderson Award).
After he retired, be bought a lake house in Wisconsin, and enjoyed fishing and being close to nature.
His obituary says that “Bill is most remembered by people who knew him as inspiring, passionate about learning, kind-hearted, charming, devoted to his family, and a friend you could count on.”

Russ Hobbie and I owe a great debt to Hendee, because Medical Imaging Physics had such an influence on the last half of Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology. His passing is sad for us all, and especially for us medical physics textbook writers. He had a long, productive life. Rest in peace, William Hendee.