BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Academic and Professional Background

• B.S. 1945 - University of Illinois, Chicago
• M.D. 1947 - University of Illinois, Chicago
• M.S. 1951 - University of Illinois, Chicago

Current Research Interests

• Clinical Trials
• Health Services Research
• Mathematical Models

Selected Publications

Best WR, Khuri SF, Phelan M, Hur K, Henderson WG, Demakis JG, Daley J. Identifying patient preoperative risk factors and postoperative adverse events in administrative databases: Results from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. J Am Coll Surg 194:257-266, 2002.

Andrus CH, Johnson K, Pierce E, Romito PJ, Hartel P, Berrios-Guccione S, Best WR. Finance modeling in the delivery of medical care in tertiary-care hospitals in the Department of Veterans Affairs. J Surg Res 96(2):152-157, 2001.

Waters TM, Cowper DC, Best WR, Guihan M, Clark KS. Location decisions of VA physicians: Where do they choose to practice? Veterans Health Care Journal 2(6):42-47, Nov.-Dec., 1997.

Cowper DC, Best WR, Waters TM, Clark KS, Guihan M. Physician turnover in the VA. Veterans Health Care Journal 2(6):16-26, Nov.-Dec., 1997.

Best WR, Cowper DC, Guihan M, Waters TM, Clark KS. Physician compensation: How does the VA compare with academia? Veterans Health Care Journal 2(5):35-42, Sept.-Oct., 1997.

Best WR, Cowper DC. The ratio of observed-to-expected mortality as a quality of care indicator in non-surgical VA patients. Medical Care 32:390-400, 1994.

Best WR, Lee ECG. A system for the anatomical coding of Crohn's disease involvement. In: Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Some International Data and Reflections, 2nd Ed. deDombal FT, Myren J, Bouchier IAD, Watkinson, Softley A (Eds.), Oxford U Press, Oxford, Chapter 11, pp. 369-385, 1993.

Joseph E, Zak R, Smith S, Best WR, Gamelli RL, Dries DJ. Predictors of blinding or serious eye injury in blunt trauma. J Trauma 33:19-24, 1992.

Schrek R, Best WR, Stefani S. Relationship between in vitro and radiosensitivity of lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic. Acta Haemat 80:129-133, 1988.

Best WR, Lee ECG. Morphological characterization of Crohn's diseases. In: Surgery of Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Vol 14 of Clinical Surgery International. Lee ECG, Nolan DJ (Eds.), Churchill Livingston, London, Chapter 16, pp 137-146, 1987.

Sontag SJ, Schnell TG, Chejfec G, O'Connell S, Stanley MM, Best WR, Chintam R, Nemchausky B, Wanner J, Moroni B. Barrett's esophagus and colonic tumours. Lancet 1: 946-949, 1985.

Best WR, Becktel JM. The Crohn's disease activity index and clinical instrument. In: Developments in Gastroenterology - Vol. 1; Recent Advances in Crohn's Disease. Pena AS, Weterman IT, Booth CC, Strober WM (Eds.), The Hague pp 7-12, 1981.

Projects Completed or Active (Selected)

• Sequential On-Line Monitors for Surgical Morbidity and Mortality
• Testing Logistic Regression Equations as Indicators of Quality Care
• Recruitment, Retention, and Compensation of VA vs Non-VA Physicians and Dentists
• Rasch Models for Crohn's Disease Activity Index

Research Funding Sources

• VA Health Services Research & Development

Research Methods Employed

• Logistic Regression
• Experimental Design/Statistical Analysis

Professional Accomplishments

• 1993-1994 - Acting Chief, Rehabilitation Research and Development Center, Hines VA
• 1988-1990 - Member - VA Chief Medical Director's Clinical and Programs Advisory Council
• 1988-1990 - Member - VA Chief Medical Director's Field Advisory Council
• 1987-1990 - VA Chairperson - District 17 Chiefs of Staff Council
• 1983-1987 - Chairperson - VA Cooperative Studies Evaluation Committee
• 1981-1992 - Chief of Staff, Hines VA Hospital, and Associate Dean for Veterans Affairs, Loyola
• 1975-1981 - Chief of Staff, University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago
• 1972-1981 - Associate Dean, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago
• 1967-1972 - Chief, Midwest Research Support Center, Hines