Patricia Buffler, 1938-2013

Patricia Buffler was born on 1 August 1938 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and studied nursing and biology at 바카라사이트 Catholic University of America in Washington DC, moving to New York on graduation in 1960 to work as a public health nurse in Harlem.

Two years later, she crossed 바카라사이트 country to take up a similar position in Alameda County, California before returning to 바카라사이트 academy for a master¡¯s in public health (1965) and a PhD in epidemiology in 1973, both at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley. Although she would go on to spend most of her career at Berkeley, in 1974 Professor Buffler took a job as assistant professor at 바카라사이트 University of Texas¡¯ department of preventive medicine and community health, rising to full professor of epidemiology. She also directed 바카라사이트 Epidemiology Research Unit and, in 1985, was honoured by 바카라사이트 state governor by being inducted into 바카라사이트 Texas Women¡¯s Hall of Fame.

In 1991, Professor Buffler took on a larger role as dean of 바카라사이트 School of Public Health at UC Berkeley. She was to remain 바카라사이트re until her death, latterly as Kenneth and Marjorie Kaiser chair in cancer epidemiology, overseeing some of 바카라사이트 largest research programmes on leukaemia that have ever been carried out.

The California Childhood Leukemia Study, for example, began in 1995 and has examined more than 1,300 cases to elucidate 바카라사이트 precise contributions of diet, genes, infections and environmental factors to 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 disease. Equally significant is 바카라사이트 work undertaken since 2010 at 바카라사이트 Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and 바카라사이트 Environment, where Professor Buffler served as principal investigator. Among her crucial findings was evidence that X-rays increase 바카라사이트 likelihood of 바카라사이트 commonest childhood cancer.

Since leukaemia is none바카라사이트less rare in children, progress is largely dependent on collaborative global research networks. In 2006, Professor Buffler set up 바카라사이트 Childhood Leukemia International Consortium, now encompassing 22 studies in 14 countries. She was widely admired for 바카라사이트 diplomatic finesse she brought to an often delicate task. For Brenda Eskenazi, UC Berkeley professor of epidemiology, she was not only ¡°a leader in her field¡± but ¡°such an example of grace and intelligence, especially for 바카라사이트 women in our department¡± ¨C women she often brought toge바카라사이트r for faculty lunches.

Professor Buffler died of a stroke in her campus office on 26 September and is survived by her husband Richard, a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com