William West, a resident at GW Hospital, died by suicide March 1. He was 34.

West was completing his ophthalmology surgery residency at GW Hospital. He was from Sandy, Utah.

West’s obituary states that medical professionals should not need to sacrifice so much of their well-being to succeed in the medical industry.

“In his final words, true to his character, William wanted to protect other medical students and residents dealing with similar challenges,” West’s obituary reads. “We hope systemic changes can be made to support aspiring medical professionals better. This is critical.”

The School of Medicine and Health Sciences residents’ and fellows’ union, which members voted to form last April, sent a letter to GW administration calling on the University to prioritize the well-being of residents. The letter calls on officials to dismantle the culture in residency programs that discourages residents from caring for themselves.

“In memory of Dr. William West, we are moving forward with a renewed sense of purpose,” the letter reads. “We urge the University to work with us to honor Will’s legacy by building a future where all of us can thrive.”

Harold Frazier, the associate dean for graduate medical education, wrote in a response to the letter last week that GW’s Resiliency and Well-Being Center has been “very engaged” in providing support through the grieving process. He wrote that they will continue to work with the program and with individual residents.

“The University is committed to identifying constructive ways to address these concerns, including through programmatic discussions with residents and through collaborative efforts with the union and larger university community,” the message reads.

In lieu of flowers, his family is accepting donations to the Dr. Lorna Breene Heroes’ Foundation, which is dedicated to the professional well-being and mental health of health workers.