Mitchell Willens, M.D.

Dr. Mitchell Willens (Mitch) (61) died peacefully in his sleep at home on September 17, 2012. A service will be held Thursday, September 20 at 1 p.m. at the Stewart Family Funeral Home with Rabbi Neal Katz officiating. Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Dr. Willens was born in Chicago, Illinois, January 26, 1951 to the late Jordan Gilbert Willens and Harriet Arenson Willens. He was a graduate of Mather HS in Chicago, IL. He earned a BA degree from Baylor University, where he met the love of his life, Claudia “Corky” Robinson. He continued his education at Chicago Medical School, earning his M.D. degree in 1976. After graduating from Chicago he served in the Indian Health Division of the U.S. Public Health Service in Claremore, Oklahoma from 1977-79. An internship and residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology was completed in 1982 at St. Joseph Hospital and University of Texas Affiliated Hospitals in Houston. Dr. Willens and his wife moved to Tyler in 1982 where he began his private practice of medicine. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1986 to present. Dr. Willens was an active staff member at Trinity-Mother Frances Hospital and East Texas Medical Center, the latter of which he was currently serving as Medical Staff Section Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He was also on the consulting staff at University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. In 1996, Dr. Willens and several colleagues formed Tyler Obstetrics and Gynecology, where he was a founding partner and was currently serving as managing partner. He was a member of Smith County Medical Society, where he served as President in 1998. He served as Chief of Staff of Mother Francis Hospital in 1995. He was a six-year Governor of the American College of Surgeons. He served as the President of the North Texas Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. He was currently serving as Vice Chairman of the American College of Surgeons Political Action Committee Board and was also a member of Texas Surgical Society, where he received the James B. Thompson Award in 2005. Dr. Willens was highly active on hospital committees such as the Executive Committee, Credentials Committee, Medical Records Committee, Emergency Committee, and Utilization Review. He was a member of a wide range of professional societies such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Surgeons, the Gynecologic Laser Society, the International Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy, the Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the National Perinatal Association, the Texas Perinatal Association, and the American Fertility Society. Dr. Willens also served on the Editorial Board of the peer-reviewed journal Postgraduate Medicine in 1985 and was a long-standing Editorial Board member of East Texas Medicine. Publications include “Eclampsia” (Medical Journal of St. Joseph Hospital, June 1982) and “Obstetrical Emergencies in the 90s” (East Texas Medicine). Dr. Willens was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan. Win or lose, he held season tickets for he and his boys since 1991! He was an expert wine connoisseur and a deeply committed family man. His greatest devotion and source of pride was to his wife and two sons. His gentle and quiet spirit endeared him to patients and friends alike. His dry sense of humor and quiet chuckle was quintessentially Mitch. He cherished teaching and mentoring future generations of medical professionals, including nurses, physicians assistants, and family practice residents. On one occasion he was honored to mentor a physician’s assistant student that he had delivered years earlier. Beyond his deep love and loyalty to his family, he loved solving the daily challenges of the practice of medicine. Nothing gave him greater satisfaction than watching the many children he delivered grow and develop into highly productive members of society. Dr. Willens was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Claudia “Corky”, his sons, Josh of Birmingham, Alabama and Zach of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; his sister, Roxane Helstrom and husband, Bob of San Diego, California, his mother- in law, and father-in-law, Claud and Jean Robinson of Grove, Oklahoma; brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, Tom and Linda Barr of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sam and Terry Robinson of Grove, Oklahoma, and Mark and Kim Robinson of Miami, Oklahoma and numerous nieces ,and nephews. Pallbearers will be Larry Burks, Ed Comer, Dr. Gary Gross, Mike Gross, Dr. Stephen Idell, Tracy Lisner, Steve Morgan, and David Yee. Honorary pallbearers will be the physicians of Tyler Obstetrics and Gynecology. Memorials may be sent to Congregation Beth El or a charity of your choice.

Mitchell Willens, M.D.

January 26, 1951 - September 17, 2012