Dr. Robert H. Williams was selected to coordinate and serve as the first chairman of the newly formed Department of Medicine at the University of Washington in 1948. Along with serving as the head of the University of Washington Department of Medicine, Dr. Williams also served as the head of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Division at the University of Washington and served as the director and primary founder of the University of Washington Diabetes Research Center. In commemoration of Dr. William's good works and contributions to the University of Washington, the Robert H. Williams Endowed Chair in Medicine was founded in 1988. Currently, this is the only endowed chair related to diabetes at the University of Washington.

As the first holder of that chair, Dr. Åke Lernmark has assembled a dedicated staff of researchers and administrative professionals to continue the battle against diabetes. Research in the Robert H. Williams Laboratory is focused on determining the genetic and environmental factors responsible for the development of insulin-dependent diabetes.

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