It is with a very heavy heart that I write to tell you that our esteemed
and beloved colleague, David Segal, a Professor in the UCSD Department
of Psychiatry, passed away on August 23, 2005, after a very short and
aggressive course of pancreatic cancer. He died at peace, surrounded by
his family: his loving wife, Betsy Morris; children, Jennifer Diascro,
Julie Fallon, and Jeff Segal; and his stepchildren, Anna and Nick
Slutsky. Also of comfort were his children's spouses, Mathew Diascro,
William Fallon, Christine Segal and Ian Lowe; and two grandchildren,
Roman and Benjamin.
David earned his Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of California at
Irvine. He joined the faculty of the UCSD Department of Psychiatry in
1969, as one of the founding members. He leaves a great legacy of
scientific contributions and accomplishments as an internationally
recognized behavioral neuropsychopharmacologist. He was nationally and
internationally known as an expert and a creative scientific leader in
the study of long-term effects of drugs on behavior and the
neurochemical mechanisms of adaptation. Specifically, his work on the
effects of stimulants on the brain provided a basis for the mechanisms
of drug-induced psychosis and mania, and the therapeutic action of
stimulants in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was a
prolific research scientist publishing over 175 papers and chapters in
high-quality journals and prestigious review monographs.
One of the most rewarding experiences in his career was his tenure as
Senior Scientific Advisor to the Director of the National Institute of
Mental Health (NIMH) in Washington D.C. He served on the NIMH External
Scientific Advisory Board as well. He had an unbroken track record of
peer-reviewed research funding from the NIH throughout his entire career
and was an NIH Research Scientist Awardee for over 20 years. In
addition, he contributed to the field by being Regional Editor for
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, as well as a member of the
Editorial Board of Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.
He was an inherently fair-minded, highly ethical, scrupulously honest,
very wise and humane man, which made him a very attractive candidate to
serve as a regular, ongoing and valuable contributor to the UCSD
academic community. He served as Vice Chair, Committee on Privilege and
Tenure; Vice Chair of The Campus-wide Planning and Budget Committee;
Chair, Ad Hoc Panel, Office of Conflict of Interest, Chair of the
Conflict of Interest Management Subcommittee, as well as other
committees in the School of Medicine and on the campus.
In addition, he was an active participant and contributor to the UCSD
Neurosciences Ph.D. Program as member of its Executive Committee; Chair
of the Core Curriculum Committee, a member of the Minor Proposition
Examination Committee, as well as a very valued teacher. He also served
on many Ph.D. dissertation committees of candidates in the
Neurosciences.
David's loyalty and contributions to his colleagues at UCSD in general
and to the Department of Psychiatry in particular in the personal,
scientific and academic spheres are legion and we have benefited greatly
from his having been with us for over 35 years. He was a rare spirit,
an everyday vital presence, and a valued and brilliant leader in our
Department as the Vice Chair for Academic Affairs. In this role, he was
a generous and generative guide and mentor for many, many young faculty,
trainees and students in psychiatry. He leaves a great legacy as a
superbly creative and productive neuroscientist, as a gifted committed
leader, teacher and mentor, as a wonderful man full of wisdom and caring
for others – all with the light touch of a delightful sense of humor.
The many people whose lives he has touched will miss him greatly. It is
up to us individually and collectively to carry on in his spirit and in
his memory, as he wanted.
In his honor, the David Segal Junior Faculty Development Fund has been
established at UCSD, which will accept donations in his memory. Checks
can be made payable to the UC Regents and sent to Carol Latham, UCSD
Foundation, 9500 Gilman Drive, mail code 0831, La Jolla, California
92093-0831. The family also welcomes donations in David’s honor to San
Diego Hospice or any cancer-related charity.
