IN MEMORIAM

Jo Anne Brasel

Professor of Pediatrics, Emerita

UC Los Angeles

1934 – 2007

Dr. Jo Anne Brasel, professor emerita with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Joseph St. Geme Chair of Pediatrics, died on May 14, 2007 following complications of a longstanding illness. Dr. Jo Anne Brasel was a consummate physician, and for many years, she served as chief of the Division of Endocrinology in the Department of Pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and directed the Clinical Research Center. Born in Salem, Illinois on February 5, 1934, her education included a B.A. from the University of Colorado where she was Phi Beta Kappa and a M.D. from the University of Colorado School of Medicine where she was class valedictorian and was elected to AOA. Her residency training was performed at Cornell University Medical College with fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Before moving to Harbor-UCLA in 1979, she served on the faculties of Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University Medical College, and Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons where she was chief of the Division of Growth and Development.

 

During her career, Dr. Brasel served as president of the Society of Pediatric Research, president of the Association of Program Directors for the General Clinical Research Centers, president of the Faculty Society at Harbor-UCLA, president of the Southern California Organization of Pediatric Endocrinologists and president of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society. She received the Joseph St. Geme Award for Education from the Western Society for Pediatric Research, the Outstanding Faculty Teacher Award from the Department of Pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA, and the Sherman Mellinkoff Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care and Teaching from UCLA.

 

Throughout her career, she demanded the highest possible standards in patient care, clinical research, education, and training. She was a relentless force with innumerable positive impacts on the lives of her patients, colleagues, and trainees. The Jo Anne Brasel Chair of Pediatric Endocrinology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has been established in her honor. Dr. Brasel is survived by her sisters: Donna Gisle, Virginia Grieder, and Jerrie Janssen, nieces, nephews, and the many friends, patients, former students, trainees and colleagues whose lives she enhanced.

 

Adam J. Jonas

Paul Lee

Ronald Swerdloff