Dr. Thomas Wood, Dean of the College of Education and Applied Science, is in stable condition in the intensive care unit after having his spleen removed, Huntsville Memorial Hospital nurse Karen Douglas said.
“Dean Wood fell Sunday afternoon on his bicycle, and apparently as part of that, his spleen was injured and moved, which ruptured it and caused internal bleeding,” said Dr. John Huber, chair of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Applied Science. “He and his wife were just riding a bicycle down the street and something happened, and the bicycle flipped. That’s the extent of what (Woods) even remembers at this point.”
Wood is doing well but is expected to be in the hospital most of this week while recovering, Huber said.
“It depends on how fast the recovery goes,” he said. “Right now he is still in intensive care. Then once they move him out of there, he’ll probably be (in the hospital) two or three more days.”
Letters or cards can be sent to the Teacher Education Center, and would “certainly be appreciated,” Huber said.
“Any prayers that ya’ll could offer for him would certainly be appreciated as well,” Huber said.
Wood became the Dean of the College of Education and Applied Science at SHSU in the fall of 2001 and previously served as associate dean and department chair.
Before coming to SHSU, Wood was appointed professor of educational psychology and special services and assistant dean at the University of Texas at El Paso in 1991.
Wood earned his bachelor’s of science degree from Florida State University. He earned his master’s degree in educational administration at Stetson University in Florida while teaching special education in Volusia County Schools and working at the Florida Rehabilitation Center for the Blind.
In 1978 he was awarded the Doctor of Education degree in school psychology and special education.