SUBJECT:

Passing of Professor Emeritus Paul Jay Friedman, M.D.

The Department of Radiology announces with great sadness the passing of Professor Emeritus Paul Jay Friedman, M.D., on July 2, 2017 at the age of 80. Professor Friedman joined the faculty at the Department of Radiology at the newly formed UCSD School of Medicine in 1968. He not only served his Department’s tripartite needs, he served his Medical School as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for 13 years, and perhaps most significantly he served as a unique and dominant voice for academic integrity in Radiology, remaining active as a clinician teacher and researcher after his retirement in 2001.

Born in New York City on January 20, 1937, Professor Friedman was destined for greatness at an early age. He was recruited into the Ford Family Foundation’s then new Ford Scholars program as a 15 year-old, and entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics as well as his pre-medical requirement over the subsequent 3 years graduating from the University of Wisconsin at age 18. Professor Friedman then attended and graduated from Yale University’s School of Medicine. Professor Friedman received the James Hudson Brown Memorial Fund and Public Health Fellowship for research supported by Yale University’s Department of Pharmacology in 1957-58, spending a professionally rewarding and personally significant year of research at Balliol College, University of Oxford, England. It was at Oxford during this year of research that Professor Friedman met his future bride, soon to be E. Clare Friedman, who was engaged in the study of math also at Oxford. Professor Friedman received his Doctor of Medicine in June 1960 and was awarded the Borden Undergraduate Research Award in Medicine for his thesis: “The Enzymatic Metabolism of Chloral Hydrate.” Professor Friedman served his clinical internship at the Einstein College of Medicine Bronx Memorial Hospital followed by a radiology residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. Immediately following residency completion, Professor Friedman patriotically served his country for two years as the Chief of Radiology at the US Naval Submarine Medical Center in Groton, CT, attaining the final rank of Lt. Commander. From 1966-68, Professor Friedman then served as an Advanced Fellow in Academic Radiology of the James Picker Foundation under the tutelage of Drs. Liebow and Greenspan who were faculty members of the Department of Pathology and Radiology at the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Liebow was instrumental in recruiting Professor Friedman to UCSD in July of 1968 where he served as a transformative influence for the next 43 years.

A dedicated academician, Professor Friedman distinguished himself as an accomplished clinician, researcher, policy expert and senior administrator. A devoted physician and teacher, Professor Friedman served as the UCSD Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Radiology from 1968 through his retirement in 2001, and was consistently recognized by medical students, residents and fellows for excellence in teaching during his tenure. His academic research and writing extended for over half a century. Most of his work focused on chest radiology, where he published on a variety of subjects, including interstitial lung diseases, infection, and lung cancer. These publications had a significant impact on the transforming and growing field of thoracic imaging with the birth and growth of radiology’s CT era. Among his seminal publications were manuscripts reporting the early application of computed tomography to the evaluation of lung carcinoma and the first report of an association between cigarette smoking and pulmonary Langerhan cell histiocytosis.

Professor Friedman served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1982-1995 for the UCSD School of Medicine. His greatest contributions may have come from his many publications on academic integrity and research ethics. This began in association with an investigation into fraudulent research performed at UCSD that occurred during his tenure as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Over the next 15 years, his publications examined critical issues relating to research ethics and misconduct, and shaped the field of academic and intellectual integrity on an international scope and scale.

Professor Friedman was elected a fellow of the American College of Radiology in 1979 and the American College of Chest Physicians in 1984. In 1998, he was named a Distinguished Service Member of the Association of American Medical Colleges and was named Hans Kende Lecturer on Research Integrity at Michigan State University in 2007.

An avid music lover and vocalist, colleagues fondly remember Professor Friedman’s spectacular bass voice. He actively participated in the UCSD Madrigal Singers and La Jolla Symphony and Chorus in San Diego throughout his professional career. He supported the UCSD String Quartet Series, La Jolla Summer Fest, Bach Collegium and the St. James by the Sea Music Series. He entertained faculty and staff at innumerable department events and will be remembered for the joy music brought to him and, and which he shared with others who were privileged to watch him perform.

Professor Friedman and his wife, Mrs. E. Clare Friedman, generously established the Paul J. Friedman, MD, Cardiothoracic Radiology Fellowship Fund. This endowed fund is a direct reflection of Dr. Friedman’s long-term commitment to UC San Diego and his indelible impact on his field, and the department is indebted to Mrs. Friedman who has honored Professor Friedman and his connection with the department in such a meaningful way. The Paul J. Friedman, MD, Cardiothoracic Radiology Fellowship Fund provides access and new training opportunities for the brightest young minds in cardiothoracic radiology, and will continue Professor Friedman’s legacy of excellence in research, education and patient care in perpetuity.

Surviving him are his beloved wife and life partner of 57 years, E. Clare Friedman; children Elizabeth, Deborah, Matthew and Rachel; and 9 grandchildren. Information regarding memorial services will be forthcoming.

David A. Brenner Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean, School of Medicine Alexander Norbash, M.D., M.S. Chair, Department of Radiology