Dr. Austin Blackburn Wiles, MD

Austin Blackburn Wiles, M.D., passed away suddenly at the age of 38 on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Austin was a graduate of the Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, the College of William and Mary, and Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed his Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency at VCU Health, serving as Chief Resident. He additionally completed fellowships in Forensic Pathology with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia, and in Cytopathology with VCU Health. After completing his education, Austin joined the faculty of VCU’s Department of Pathology, where he served as an assistant professor for the past six years, specializing in Head and Neck Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology. Additionally, he served as the Director of Autopsy and Medical Director of Decedent Affairs for VCU Health. Austin was passionate about pathology, dedicated to his patients, and caring about his colleagues. Austin was deeply committed to learning and kindled a love of scholarship in others, as demonstrated through his teaching and body of research. His expertise was nationally and internationally recognized, notably as Editor of "CytoSource," as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for "Cancer Cytopathology," and as core faculty for the Immersive Cytology Experience (ICE) and the Excel-erate Leadership Program of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP). Austin was recognized earlier this year by VCU’s pathology residents with the Department of Pathology’s Saul Kay Faculty Award, after having previously been honored by VCU medical students in 2018 with the Outstanding Teacher Award for his contributions to their Scientific Foundations of Medicine coursework. His international work showcased his gifts as an educator, and his selfless mentorship and guidance personally touched numerous pathology residents, fellows, and aspiring physicians. Teaching was, in his own words, “fundamental to securing the future of patient care.” Austin was full of thoughtful, highly detailed, and actionable ideas on how to make the world a healthier, more just and peaceful place; he determinedly sought to be an instrument of such change. Throughout his academic and professional experience, Austin learned from and collaborated with several admired and respected mentors, including Drs. Robert Pike, Celeste Powers, David Kaminsky, Enrique Gerszten, Deborah Kay, and Liron Pantanowitz. Austin had recently accepted the position of Director of Cytopathology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and was eagerly anticipating the next chapter of his career and life. Austin’s family and friends will remember him for his eclectic interests and deep well of knowledge. He loved and could converse intelligently on music, literature of any genre, film, and art. In recent years he had taken an interest in philosophy. Before his passing, he appeared as a guest speaker on the podcast "Acid Horizon" to discuss the Deleuzoguattarian philosophical concept of “the body without organs” from both a professional and personal perspective. He led an active life, from rock climbing and whitewater kayaking in his teens to running, cycling, and rowing in recent years. Austin’s intellectual gifts were awe-inspiring, but they were eclipsed by his unending kindness, generosity, and fierce advocacy for those in need. His integrity and his deep emotional intelligence made him an excellent listener who could understand and articulate a person’s needs with reassuring clarity. Rather than condescend, he could deconstruct any issue to make it accessible–elevating and empowering one to approach the subject oneself and partnering in that endeavor. He would not simply dive deep and leave one struggling with the weight of turmoil or confusion. He would find a way to uplift, usually with his incisive–sometimes goofy–wit, enveloping laughter, and winning smile. Austin’s deep desire to help was always at the core. He accepted others’ problems as his own, bringing comfort and solutions to those he loved. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Isolde; his mother and father, Leslie and Howard Wiles; his uncle, Rich Snedaker; his sister, Alex Wiles; his intended brother-in-law, Will Arnold; his mother-in-law, Teresa Uecker; and his brother-in-law, Jan Uecker. He also leaves behind six adored adopted cats: Franklin, Huey, Elmer, Peter, Lucy, and Hilda. He is survived by cherished longtime friends Emily Schy, Matt Eakin, Sadia Sayeed, and Woon Chow. A private service will be held for immediate family and friends at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Austin’s memory to the St. Francis Humane Association, P.O. Box 73622, Richmond, VA 23235, or via link below. To know Austin was to marvel at his voracious reading, extensive personal library, and deep love of the written word. With that in mind, his family would truly appreciate written remembrances of Austin via www.tinyurl.com/austinwiles or to the Wiles Family care of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd., Midlothian, VA 23113, for inclusion in a book that will commemorate his life.