Dr. William Fuller: A Half Century Career
A career spanning five productive decades is a rare and remarkable achievement. It’s a milestone that underscores integrity, resilience and deep commitment. For those who know Dr. William Fuller, professor and executive vice chair of the SSOM Department of Psychiatry, those 50 years stand as a powerful testament to his steadfast dedication, exceptional leadership and lasting influence as one of South Dakota’s most distinguished psychiatrists.
Dr. Fuller began his career at the SSOM in 1975 fresh out of medical school and residency at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. At the time, he was the first psychiatrist recruited by Dale Gulledge, M.D., the first chair of the SSOM Department of Psychiatry. During his first two years, Dr. Fuller made four or five trips to the Yankton campus each week to run the Department of Psychiatry, as medical student training in psychiatry was done collaboratively with the Department of Family Medicine in both Sioux Falls and Yankton.
Recognizing the critical shortage of psychiatrists in South Dakota, Dr. Fuller quickly set to work improving the state’s access to mental health services. In 1987, he wrote and obtained accreditation for the SSOM Adult Psychiatry Residency Program, and between 1989 and 1992, he recruited multiple faculty members to start a child and adolescent program. Dr. Fuller served as chair of the department 1988-2001.
Dr. Tim Soundy, current chair of psychiatry, joined the SSOM in 1991. Together, the duo obtained accreditation for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program and developed its curriculum in 1992. The program began with a capacity for just three fellows per year; today, it has grown to eight per year, training 56 child psychiatrists since then.
To date, more than 150 psychiatrists have trained in the USD psychiatry residency, many of whom stayed in South Dakota to practice. Dr. Soundy credits Dr. Fuller for bringing enough psychiatrists to South Dakota to significantly reduce the shortage: When Dr. Fuller began at the SSOM there were only 10 psychiatrists in the state. Five decades later, there are more than 90.
Dr. Soundy noted Dr. Fuller is infamous for his work ethic. “He was always on the road, teaching or advocating – it seemed like he worked nonstop. I think a 40-hour work week was about half time for him,” Dr. Soundy said.
Shawn Van Gerpen, ‘03 M.D., vice chair of the SSOM Department of Psychiatry and residency program director, echoed that sentiment. “It is fair to say Dr. Fuller’s 50 years of dedication and service to the field of psychiatry paved the way for the success seen by the USD SSOM Department of Psychiatry and that of Avera Medical Group Behavioral Health,” he stated.
Reflecting on his career, Dr. Fuller shared, “Since the beginning of my residency, I have always thought psychiatry was a great choice of specialty – and later realized it was the best specialty. I never get bored. I see new-to-me presentations at least weekly, which is exciting and fascinating. Just think, I have been doing this for more than 50 years and still see new things all the time. It is not just the presentations, but the complexity of the human brain which is equally interesting. Over time I have become confident that advances in treatment will be arriving soon – and some will revolutionize psychiatry.”
His passion for psychiatry and teaching is evident. “I especially enjoy teaching residents about research rigor and demonstrating through supervision, lecture and role modeling the subtleties of human interaction as a psychiatrist,” explained Dr. Fuller. “With medical students, I enjoy conveying advances in research, especially biologically based advances.”
Emily Mammenga, ’21 M.D., chief psychiatry resident, has trained under Dr. Fuller for four years. “Dr. Fuller strongly emphasizes residents having autonomy over their patients,” she said. “He has consistently allowed me to make decisions about how I want to treat my clinic patients while giving guidance.”
Dr. Fuller’s career is marked by extensive service, national involvement and a deep commitment to advancing psychiatric care. He has served on countless committees, boards and task forces, and has been a member or reviewer for numerous national organizations.
His resume includes accolades from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Psychiatric Association, Sioux Valley Hospital, Southeastern Behavioral Care, and the USD SSOM, among others. He is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, is certified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Fuller and his wife of 45 years, a retired RN, have five adult children, two of whom live in New York City, with the others in Yankton, Sioux Falls and Cape Coral, Florida. Now with a part-time schedule, he says, he can spend more time sailing on Yankton’s Lewis & Clark Lake, a hobby he shares with his residents, as he takes them out sailing each year.
“I think the length of time he has been practicing is the biggest teller of how much he cares about educating medical students and residents to provide the best care for the people of South Dakota,” Dr. Mammenga observed.
His passion and unwavering commitment have left an enduring mark in South Dakota and across the profession.
“Dr. Fuller has been an inspiration to so many individuals over the course of his 50 years in medicine,” Dr. Soundy asserted. “Very few in our profession will ever leave behind a legacy and impact like Dr. Fuller has.”
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