January 16, 2018
As you are aware, I had an incident in the Pittsburgh airport that ultimately required me to have an internal cardiac defibrillator implanted. This device will monitor my heart and make certain that if it has any arrhythmia, it can be “shocked” back into rhythm.
The purpose of this note is to thank my University family for your support and concern over the past several weeks. I assure you that I am fully on the mend and look forward to resuming my responsibilities this week. I was 36 when I first served as president of this University. I will, in a few weeks, be 74. My spirit and enthusiasm remain as high or higher than when I was 36. But, the lesson I have learned is that I have to gain better balance in my life. Not a bad lesson for anyone to learn at any age — particularly when one is blessed to have a loving family, great friends and a wonderful University to support you. I have all three, and for that, I am truly grateful.
I want to particularly thank the physicians and caregivers at our academic medical center. I have spoken on numerous occasions about how fortunate we are to have a great medical center and, now that I am a recipient of its care, I know it to be absolutely true.
So, thanks to each and every one of you for your well-wishes. I look forward to a great academic semester and continuing to lead West Virginia University into the new year with both purpose and momentum.
E. Gordon Gee
President, West Virginia University