WMU President John Dunn recovering from heart attack, back on the job

Fritz Klug
Western Herald

Western Michigan University President John Dunn came back to work Monday, Jan. 4 after suffering a heart attack on Christmas day while he and his wife Linda were visiting family in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dunn announced the episode in an e-mail to faculty and staff sent Tuesday afternoon. He said that while he would normally keep such a matter private, given his public profile, he was compelled to share it.

Dunn, who is 64, wrote that when he began experiencing chest pains his family took him to Intermountain Health Care Hospital in Murray, Utah.

“I was admitted, and given a quick diagnosis of myocardial infarct–a heart attack,” the e-mail reads. “I was quickly stabilized and that same day, had two stents implanted to treat atherosclerosis.”

On, Sunday, Dec. 27, Dunn walked out of the hospital with “a good long-term prognosis.” He returned to Kalamazoo the following day, as previously planned.

Dunn spent the following week resting at home. “Immediately upon my return to Kalamazoo, I notified the University’s board of trustees and senior staff members about both the episode and the favorable prognosis,” he wrote. “I told them I do not intend to miss a beat–or at least any more beats–as we continue to tackle some of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I make that same pledge to you.

Dunn came back to his office first thing Monday morning, Cheryl Roland, executive director of university relations, said.

“He has a full schedule,” Roland said, “but it is tailored back.”

Roland added that Dunn shared with his senior staff that he was prone the attack due to family medical history. She said that Dunn is treating this with the same kind of humor that he normally tackles issues like this.

“Going forward, I am making necessary adjustments to my diet and exercise regimen–no more macaroni and cheese, less running and more walking,” Dunn wrote. “My doctors and I expect that I will resume a normal pattern of work, activity and life.”

Dunn asked for the university community’s understanding if he is unable to make a prior engagement or sends someone in his place.

“There may be some schedule adjustments in the coming weeks, and I ask for your understanding if those adjustments mean I miss seeing you at an event or meeting. I’m learning quite a lot about the care and feeding of the heart and still have a ways to go before having the expertise needed. But I’m a quick study and expect to resume a normal schedule in the very near future.”

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Jan 6 2010. Filed under Breaking, Campus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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