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OBITUARY NOTICE: NICHOLAS A. HALASZ, M.D., DIES

Founding Father of UCSD School of Medicine and Kidney Transplant Program Nicholas A. Halasz, M.D., director of the region's first organ transplant program, died today from cancer. This world-renowned transplant surgeon and respected teacher was 68 years old.

Dr. Halasz performed the San Diego's first kidney transplant in 1968 and brought organ transplantation to the county. During this same time, he was instrumental in setting up San Diego's only medical school. Thirty-one years later, he continued to be a driving force in the UCSD School of Medicine's world-class academic, clinical and research programs.

"As a founding member of the UCSD School of Medicine, Dr. Halasz embodied all of the qualities that we value in our institution," said Robert C. Dynes, UCSD chancellor. "He was dedicated to excellence in every endeavor - an enthusiastic teacher who was devoted to his students, a compassionate physician and surgeon, and a researcher who was constantly seeking to improve the outlook for his patients."

"We have been fortunate to benefit from the exceptional talent, energy and wisdom of individuals like Dr. Halasz, and his legacy will shine on for years to come through the contributions of the many people he has so generously influenced and inspired," Dr. Dynes said.

"I have known Nick since the 1960s, when we were colleagues at UCLA," said John F. Alksne, M.D., vice chancellor of health sciences and dean of UCSD School of Medicine. "I have always had a great admiration for him as a surgeon and a human being. He was a stellar role model in all of the missions - research, patient care, education and community service - and always put the institution and the well-being of his colleagues first."

Among other things, Dr. Halasz's legacy is seen in UCSD School of Medicine's unique anatomy program, which he designed and directed. Unlike at other medical schools, UCSD medical students are taught anatomy by surgeons rather than anatomists. And as evidenced by from the many teaching awards he received such as the UCSD School of Medicine 25th Anniversary Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Halasz was among the favorite anatomy instructors.

Since the beginning of the medical school, Dr. Halasz was the beloved teacher of Human Anatomy 207, the class in which medical students have the first detailed interaction with a cadaver. "Dr. Halasz genuinely cared about the well-being of the medical students," remembers UCSD medical student Katherine R. Calvo. "Dr. Halasz's most impressive and ultimately most important characteristic was the genuine concern for patients and humanity which he conveyed to me and my classmates as students. "

These sorts of comments are echoed throughout the San Diego medical community. "This is a huge loss to our patients and staff," said Jacqueline Parthemore, M.D., chief of staff and medical director at the Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System where Dr. Halasz was the chief of surgery. "Dr. Halasz was an outstanding clinician, educator and leader. Above all, he was a true humanitarian."

Aside from being a great surgeon and teacher, Dr. Alksne remembers his friend as being a "perfect gentleman and family man who was always understanding and accommodating of the needs of others."

"Years ago, when I first came to UCSD, Nick took me and my son to Scripps Pier to show us the ways of the water in San Diego, where all the best waves were and taught us how to body surf the big waves," said Dr. Alksne. "He will be deeply missed as a colleague and a friend."

Dr. Halasz is survived by his wife, Diane; a son, Peter; a daughter, Katherine, and two grandsons, Nicholas and Douglas Hensley. Dr. Halasz, who was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1931, graduated from Yale University School of Medicine in 1954 and completed his surgery residency at Yale-New Haven Medical Center in 1962. He was on the department of surgery faculty at UCLA from 1962 to 1967 until he came to San Diego to help start at medical school.