Dr. Dwight “Kip” William Wait, III passed away on April 16, 2023, in Charlotte, NC. The son of Dwight W. Wait, Jr. and Virginia “Ginnie” Lee Adair, Kip was born Sept 16, 1945, in Denver CO. He attended Shayler High school in Glenshaw PA. His career goal however was set from a young age. He knew by middle school he wanted to be a physician and this goal never wavered. Kip was an excellent and dedicated student, always sitting in the front row whenever possible. He attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for eight years, was the youngest President of the Epsilon Delta and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his B.A. in Chemistry in 1967 followed by his M.D. degree in 1972.
Following the completion of his medical degree, Kip completed a one-year internship at University of Alabama Birmingham and a three-year residency at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Atrium Health) in 1978. He began his emergency room practice at Mercy Hospital in 1980, serving as chairman of the department for many years. He later served as Medical Director of Randolph Clinic (now Anuvia), Amethyst, McLeod Center, and several other substance abuse programs. His love of learning inspired him to become board certified in Addiction Medicine. He was known for his compassionate care, working with thousands of clients suffering from the stigma and disease of addiction.
Kip’s prodigious allegiance to his beloved alma mater was obvious in multiple ways. He encouraged the children of friends and neighbors to seriously consider applying to UNC, took multiple annual trips to the UNC campus, supported the university through his financial contributions, and was an avid Tarheel basketball fan (even in a bad season).
Many knew him as a Porsche aficionado, who sequentially owned nine 911’s, but always hoped to find the perfect #10. He loved a good martini, fine food and clothes shopping. He adored traveling with his wife, Jeanette, especially to anywhere with sand and salt water. He loved Snoopy and was nicknamed “The Snoopy Doctor” by Charles Schultz. Above all, he was the kindest of men, a loyal friend, a loving husband, and a physician who dedicated his life to helping others.