Dr. James E. Youker

Dr. James Youker (‘Jim’) passed away peacefully on June 12th 2023, age 94 years. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sally Youker; his children and their spouses, Elizabeth Youker Rice (Richard), David Youker (Kerry), Britt Taner (Kerim) and eight grandchildren (in chronological order Austin, Courtney, Chandler, Leyal, Ashley, Mitchell, Jane, and Thomas). He is also survived by his brother Robert Youker (spouse Susan, and niece Lindsey Levy).

Dr. Youker was born in Cooperstown, New York and raised in Buffalo, New York to parents Marion and Bliss Youker. He received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University (Class of ‘50) and his Medical Doctorate from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Minnesota in Radiology, during which he spent two years completing military service as Chief of Radiology at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi. After completing his service and residency, Dr. Youker held positions at the Medical College of Virginia, the University of California - San Francisco and as a research fellow at the University of Lund in Sweden.

Dr. Youker became the Chair of Radiology for the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1968 and continued for 45 years until his retirement. His length of service granted him the distinction of being the nation’s longest serving academic Chair at the time of his retirement. Dr. Youker inspired his residents and faculty over multiple generations; indeed, several of his residents’ children grew to become Radiology residents under his leadership.

Dr. Youker holds the highest level of award and distinction in Radiology with gold medals from the Association of University Radiologists, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Roentgen Ray Society, and the American College of Radiology. Dr. Youker is nationally recognized and respected in the medical community with his leadership roles as President of the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments, the Wisconsin State Radiological Society and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Executive Committee. He holds the distinction of being the only Radiologist to hold this role with the ABMS. Dr. Youker served on the Medical College of Wisconsin Board of Directors, as well as numerous committees at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County General Hospital and Froedtert Hospital.

Academically, Dr. Youker was an accomplished researcher and chaired the Conjoint Committee on Diagnostic Radiology at the NIH, which served to enhance research and education in Radiology nationally. He also chaired the Radiology Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and served as the Trustee of the American Board of Radiology. Dr. Youker co-founded the Creative Concepts in Radiology annual conference, an event where innovations in Radiology were shared among the nation’s leading radiologists.

Along with his medical accomplishments, Dr. Youker was known for his love of travel, the outdoors, and intellectual discourse. He was an expert across a wide array of topics with an incredible memory for detail. He was a master bird watcher with an uncanny ability to spot the tiniest of birds from any distance and identify nearly any bird by its song. He enjoyed Nature, whether across the vastest of expanses or within the most minute details of a wildflower, and found solace paddling a river, skiing in the mountains of Colorado or Utah, and walking the woods of northern Wisconsin.

Dr. Youker was a truly gentle soul who viewed all people as equal and deserving of respect, kindness, and courtesy. He took delight in meeting anyone and greeted both friends and strangers with joy. If traveling internationally he would attempt to learn key terms in the local language and try to speak it with anyone he met.

Dr. Youker’s passing is an enormous loss for his family whom he held most dear; his friends; the Medical College of Wisconsin; the medical profession; and the patients and students whose lives he influenced.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 19th at St. John’s Northwestern Academy, Noble Victory Memorial Chapel, 1101 Genesee St. Delafield, WI 53018. Due to construction, please enter the grounds at Exeter St.

In memory of Dr. Youker, we continue to honor his legacy through the James E.Youker, MD Endowed Professorship in Radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the James E. Youker, MD Endowed Professorship may be made to;

"The Medical College of Wisconsin Youker Professorship"

The Medical College of Wisconsin

Attn: Institutional Advancement

P.O. Box 26509

Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509