Dr. Caryl Guth Honored for Dedication to Wake Forest Athletics with Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award
10/13/2025 9:55:00 AM | General, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf
Dr. Caryl Guth was a pioneer and visionary in her field of medicine, helping establish the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Her legacy left a lasting impact on Wake Forest University and her generosity helped pave the way for generations of Demon Deacon student-athletes.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Over her lifetime, Dr. Caryl Guth impacted thousands of lives with her philanthropic and leadership with Wake Forest Athletics while also being a visionary, helping establish the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Now, she is being honored with the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize her everlasting impact on Wake Forest.
This recognition will take place at the 2026 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony on Feb. 27 and she will be honored at that weekend's men's and women's basketball games as well.
Dr. Guth helped establish the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2003. Before that, the dedicated anesthesiologist worked in the Mills-Peninsula Hospital System in California for over 30 years.
She also worked as an instructor at Radboud University (formerly the University of Nijmegen) in the Netherlands and as a fellow in anesthesiology at Queen Victoria Hospital in Sussex, England. She had been an instructor at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, a member of the board of science and policy advisors for the American Council on Science and Health and a holistic and integrative medicine physician.
After more than 40 years dedicated to helping patients as an integrative medicine specialist and anesthesiologist, Dr. Guth received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. The award celebrated her many years of experience in her professional network and noted her achievements, leadership qualities and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field.
The Peoria, Ill. native earned her bachelor's degree from Wake Forest in 1957 and her M.D. in 1962 before getting an internship with the University of Kansas Medical Center. She went on to earn a certification as a Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
The Wake Forest graduate has been a significant part of the University and its athletics programs over the years. She was a member of the Wake Forest Medical Alumni Association, serving as president from 2005 to 2006. She received the Loyal Deacon Award in 2018 and the Deacon Club Member of the Year Award in 2010. Dr. Guth also provided scholarships to the women's golf and basketball programs.
During her immense philanthropic effort to Wake Forest University, she helped pave the way for the advancement of women's athletics, including providing the lead gift for the on-campus Dr. Caryl Guth Women's Basketball Clubhouse, dedicated in her honor.
She also served on the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame selection committee and led the Demon Deacons onto the field for the opening game of the 2022 football season against VMI as the first Open the Gate honoree of the season.
Award Recipients
This recognition will take place at the 2026 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony on Feb. 27 and she will be honored at that weekend's men's and women's basketball games as well.
Dr. Guth helped establish the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2003. Before that, the dedicated anesthesiologist worked in the Mills-Peninsula Hospital System in California for over 30 years.
She also worked as an instructor at Radboud University (formerly the University of Nijmegen) in the Netherlands and as a fellow in anesthesiology at Queen Victoria Hospital in Sussex, England. She had been an instructor at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, a member of the board of science and policy advisors for the American Council on Science and Health and a holistic and integrative medicine physician.
After more than 40 years dedicated to helping patients as an integrative medicine specialist and anesthesiologist, Dr. Guth received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. The award celebrated her many years of experience in her professional network and noted her achievements, leadership qualities and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field.
The Peoria, Ill. native earned her bachelor's degree from Wake Forest in 1957 and her M.D. in 1962 before getting an internship with the University of Kansas Medical Center. She went on to earn a certification as a Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
The Wake Forest graduate has been a significant part of the University and its athletics programs over the years. She was a member of the Wake Forest Medical Alumni Association, serving as president from 2005 to 2006. She received the Loyal Deacon Award in 2018 and the Deacon Club Member of the Year Award in 2010. Dr. Guth also provided scholarships to the women's golf and basketball programs.
During her immense philanthropic effort to Wake Forest University, she helped pave the way for the advancement of women's athletics, including providing the lead gift for the on-campus Dr. Caryl Guth Women's Basketball Clubhouse, dedicated in her honor.
She also served on the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame selection committee and led the Demon Deacons onto the field for the opening game of the 2022 football season against VMI as the first Open the Gate honoree of the season.
Award Recipients
- 2025 - Dr. Caryl Guth, Wake Forest Philanthropist
- 2024 - Lynne Heflin, Former Men's Basketball Administrative Assistant
- 2023 – Syd Kitson ('80), Football
- 2021 – Barbara Trautwein, Former Women's Basketball Pep Band Director
- 2019 – John Foster ('78), Former Football Manager
- 2018 – Judge Albert Kirby ('80), Football
- 2017 – Tal Jobe ('67), Men's Basketball
- 2016 – Cook Griffin ('65, P '00), Former Football Manager
- 2015 – Dr. Stephanie Glenn ('77, M.D. '81), Volleyball
- 2014 – Abe Elmore ('55), Former Football Manager
- 2013 – Julie Griffin ('69, P '00), Cheerleader
- 2012 – Bill Faircloth ('64, P '89, P '90, P '93, P '94, GP '19, GP '22, GP '24), Football
- 2011 – Jim Turner ('55), Football
- 2010 – Chip Rives ('87, M.B.A. '89), Football
- 2009 – Jesse Haddock ('52, P '68, GP '97, GP '99*, GP '03), Former Head Men's Golf Coach
- 2008 – Bob McCreary ('61), Football
- 2007 – Dr. Gene Hooks ('50, P '81), Baseball
- Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "Dr. Caryl Guth's extraordinary vision, generosity and commitment to Wake Forest Athletics have left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the experiences of our student-athletes and coaches. From her leadership in advancing women's athletics to her personal support of countless programs and people, she embodied the best of what it means to be a Demon Deacon. While we continue to miss her presence deeply, we are grateful for the opportunity to spotlight her impact through the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award at our Hall of Fame ceremony next year. This recognition is a fitting tribute to a trailblazer whose influence will endure for generations to come."
- Tony and Vi Golding Women's Golf Head Coach Kim Lewellen:
- "This honor is extremely fitting for Dr. Guth. Every day, Dr. Guth showed a heart of charity, integrity and leadership. She was only a phone call away for me to brainstorm about the team, to come to my rescue if the team had a need and was always there supporting the team at every pivotal moment of the year. I am honored to have called Dr. Guth a friend and I am thrilled she is being celebrated with this honor."
- Women's Basketball Head Coach Megan Gebbia:
- "Caryl's generosity and leadership have impacted and will continue to impact countless generations of Wake Forest student-athletes. Caryl's commitment to women's athletics is truly unrivaled, and we will miss one of the best people I have come to know in my time at Wake Forest. She was a leader in everything that she did in her life and especially for women's athletics. She also is someone I could lean on for advice and I appreciate this place bringing us together. Caryl was a friend and truly one of the best representations of what it means to be a Wake Forester."
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