In Memoriam: Dr. Craig Stump

In Memoriam: Dr. Craig Stump

By Department of Medicine
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Dr. Craig S. Stump served as chief of the UA Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism from 2006 to 2016.
Dr. Craig S. Stump served as chief of the UA Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism from 2006 to 2016.

Dr. Craig S. Stump, the former chief of the UA Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, died on May 4 after a brief illness. He was 58.

Stump joined the faculty at the College of Medicine – Tucson and clinical staff at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in 2006. He served as chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism until 2016. He also held joint appointments as an associate professor of medicine, a professor of nutritional sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and director of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship Program.

Before joining the UA, Stump was an assistant professor of internal medicine, pharmacology and physiology at the University of Missouri, beginning in 2003. He also served as a staff physician at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital.

A native of the Seattle area, Stump attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, and Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington, before earning his bachelor's degree in chemistry and physical education from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where he was a member of the varsity cross-country team. He earned his master's degree in exercise and sports sciences, his doctorate in exercise physiology and nutritional sciences, and his medical degree at the UA.

Between his master's and doctorate, Stump completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in physiology and cell biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed his residency in internal medicine and an endocrinology fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

A caring and healing heart

"I was very sad to hear the news" of his death, said Dr. Monica Kraft, chair of the Department of Medicine, which includes the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and holder of the Robert and Irene Flinn Endowed Chair of Medicine. "He was a dedicated, thoughtful and caring physician and a wonderful colleague. My deepest condolences and best wishes go to his family."

"Dr. Stump had caring and healing as deep, fundamental core values," said Dr. Stephen P. Thomson, assistant professor of medicine, who worked with Stump at the VA.

"He was especially respectful and really focused on using his practical knowledge to help everyone," said Thomson, division chief of endocrinology at the VA. "He would not tell people what to do. Instead, he was a very careful listener who would gather all the facts and put together the story about what was going on and what could be done about it. Everyone felt he took the time to really listen and care about them. The fact is he really did care. He knew caring about people was the best way to give them care. His legacy will include many people that will carry on with his great way of caring and healing."

Stump and Thomson would typically host the UA endocrinology fellows graduation event at their homes every summer. This year, Thomson said, the event will also be a celebration of Stump's life.

"One of the main reasons I came to Tucson to join the UA faculty was because of my high regard for Dr. Stump – not only for his accomplishments and abilities, but he was such a nice guy, a wonderful friend and colleague," said Dr. Merri Pendergrass, clinical chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.

Honors and awards

Among his many honors, Stump was named a 2013 fellow of the American College of Endocrinology and won the Cure Award for Outstanding Diabetes Research in 2010 from the American Diabetes Association – Arizona Chapter.

Stump was a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Society of Hypertension, and the Catholic Medical Association.

Stump also served as an editorial board member for several academic journals, including Diabetes, Cardiorenal Medicine, the Journal of CardioMetabolic Syndrome, and Endocrine Today.

He was co-principal investigator on three federally funded research projects, including two projects sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He also was a principal investigator on several industry-sponsored clinical trials.

Stump is survived by his wife, Jane; their two sons, Nathan and Isaac; parents Louis and Janet Stump; brothers Marty and Mike Stump; sister Louann Rhea; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Stump were held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Oro Valley on May 8.

For those who want to make a contribution in memory of Stump, donations can be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Knights of Columbus Council #13272 in Oro Valley.

A version of this article originally appeared on the Department of Medicine website.

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