Dr. Patricia Bath, the first female faculty member in ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, died May 30, 2019. She was 76 years old. Dr. Bath held a faculty appointment in the UCLA ophthalmology department from 1974 to 1987. During Dr. Bath’s time at UCLA, she also was a full-time employee of Los Angeles County and a faculty member at what is now Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She also co-founded the non-profit American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.
Dr. Glenn Langer, a prolific cardiovascular researcher and longtime faculty member and administrator at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA who in his retirement established a college-readiness program for underprivileged youth, died June 19, 2019. He was 91 years old. Dr. Langer came to UCLA in 1960 to join the recently established American Heart Association Cardiovascular Research Laboratories. He was the inaugural holder of the Castera Endowed Chair in Cardiology, director of the cardiovascular research laboratories, vice chair of the department of physiology and associate dean for research.
Dr. William H. Swanson, medical director of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for 33 years and former associate dean of the UCLA School of Medicine, died July 13, 2019. He was 85 years old. Dr. Swanson completed his residency in internal medicine at UCLA, after graduating from the University of Washington School of Medicine. He was known as a humanitarian and philanthropist, who championed equal rights and freedom of speech, and he was an advocate for environmental causes.