Dr. G. Phillip Hicks

MADISON-Dr. G. Phillip Hicks, age 78, who developed one of the nation's first hospital laboratory computer systems, passed away on October 20, 2015, peacefully at home with family by his side. Dr. George Phillip Hicks, known to all as Phil, the son of Clyde Hicks and Elizabeth Joseph, was born in Danville, Illinois on June 20, 1937. After graduating from Danville High School in 1955, he attended the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana, on a scholarship, graduating in 1959 with a BS Degree in Chemistry. In 1963, he earned his Ph.D. in Analytical and Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He then joined the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, where he did pioneering research in analytical enzymology and computer sciences, and where he rose to the rank of Assistant Professor of Medicine. In late 1964, Phil obtained the unique position of being a Consultant to the DuPont Company at only 26 years of age. As a key Consultant, he played an essential role in the development of the DuPont Clinical Analyzer, which was a significant breakthrough in clinical laboratory instrumentation. The DuPont ACA became one of the leaders in laboratory automation, with thousands of instruments installed in major medical school hospitals, as well as community hospitals all over the world. In 1967, Phil along with Dr. Stewart Updike, invented the "Enzyme Gel Electrode" for the analysis of glucose, as well as other analytes, and for which they were awarded two US Patents; US35426662 (1970), and US3788950 (1974). Today, the glucose electrode is a critical component of all Insulin Pumps. In 1970, increasingly drawn to the possibilities of computers in clinical laboratories and in medical research, Phil built the first prototype hospital laboratory computer system, for the online computer collection of data from laboratory instrumentation. Realizing he was onto something that would change the future for laboratories across the globe and with some funding from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), he formed Laboratory Consulting Incorporated (LCI) in Madison. A special "thank you" to Dr. Weiss, Renee, his nurse and Wayne, his CNA at Heartland Hospice. They all made a big difference in his last days at home. Phil leaves behind his wife Pat (Patricia) Jensen Hicks, of 38 years, whom he married on March 2, 1977; children, Kaila Behrend of Madison, Jacki (Mason) Miron of McFarland, Julie (Dale) Lund of Cambridge, and from a previous marriage, Gregory (Peggy) Hicks of Belleville and Ellen (Richard) Hall of Stoughton; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He will be dearly missed and will forever be in our hearts. Funeral services will be held at ROSELAWN MEMORIAL PARK CHAPEL, 401 Femrite Dr., Monona, at 11:30 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. A celebratory reception will follow at the East side Club, 3735 Monona Dr., Monona. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, 2810 Crossroads Dr., Madison, WI 53718. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420