WFU president announces medical treatment
Thomas K. Hearn Jr., president of Wake Forest University, is being treated for a brain tumor at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Starting next week, the 66-year-old Wake Forest president will undergo a regimen of radiation and, perhaps, chemotherapy as recommended by the medical center’s physicians.
The tumor was discovered last week. He underwent a biopsy Oct. 3 intended to provide more information. Complete results are being awaited. It has not been determined whether the tumor is malignant or benign.
“They (physicians) have told me that this kind of tumor typically responds very well to treatment,” Hearn wrote in a letter distributed to the Wake Forest community Oct. 6.
“While no one wants to receive such news, I am optimistic about the outlook,” added Hearn, Wake Forest’s president since October 1983. “I feel fine.”
Hearn will continue as president, but he will trim his schedule by canceling travel and curtailing some non-essential activities during treatment. The radiation treatments will be administered for a 30-day period.
“After this series of treatments, I expect to return to a full schedule, with some accommodation for follow-up treatments if needed,” Hearn wrote.
Hearn will be attending Wake Forest’s Fall Convocation on Oct. 9, as well as a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of trustees on Oct. 9 and 10.
