Edward Newman Brandt Jr.

Edward Newman Brandt, Jr., BS MS MD PhD went to be with his Lord on the 25th of August. He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-four years, Patricia Ann Lawson Brandt. He was preceded in death by his mother Myrtle Frances Brazil Lewis. He is also survived by his father Edward N. Brandt, Sr. and his wife, and our beloved grandmother, Patricia; and by his sons, Patrick, Edward III and wife Julie, Rex, Sr. and wife Beth; grandchildren, Rex Carlin, Jr., Jeremy, Derek, Dagan, Karina, Justin and Kelli; and by his sister Jennifer and her daughter Renee, her husband Peter, her child Clifford; and by his brother Carlin, and his wife Helen, children Kim and Chris, and his wife Jen, children Katy and Riley; and by many other nieces, cousins and other relatives, and, as anyone who knew him will know, his beloved dogs, Suzie, Roxy and Buddy.
Our father earned three degrees from the University of Oklahoma, BS, MD and PhD and his masters from OSU. He wrote and co-wrote many professional articles; his curriculum vitae runs to several pages. His long career began at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as Director of the Computer Center and then Assistant Dean of Medicine. He moved to Galveston, Texas to become Dean of the Graduate School and then Dean of Medicine at University of Texas Medical Branch. He was then promoted to be Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs of the entire UT system.
In 1981, President Reagan appointed him to be the Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services where he oversaw the NIH, the CDC, the FDA, HRSA, ADAMHA, the Office of the Surgeon General and other agencies. It was during his tenure that AIDS was first identified and he led the nation's health care agencies' response to the epidemic. As Assistant Secretary, he worked very hard on health issues for women, and is recognized for giving birth to efforts in the Public Health Service/DHHS for the future blossoming of federal efforts on women's health across the entire Department of Health and Human Services that have resulted in the increased national consciousness about women's health and their health care, being called the "Godfather of Women's Health" for his efforts by Vivian Pinn, the Director of the Office of Research on Women's Health at the National Institutes of Health.
In 1985, he became the Chancellor of the University of Maryland at Baltimore, which included the schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, social work and law. In 1989, he returned to his beloved University of Oklahoma as Dean of Medicine. After his tenure as Dean, he taught in the School of Public Health and was appointed Regents' Professor. He continued to teach after his official retirement, until his last illness prevented it. In that role, as in all of his roles, he was a mentor to many of his students and colleagues. Their fond recollections of his help and advice were a great comfort to him in his last days and a vivid testament to his caring and giving nature.
His awards and honors are too numerous to list. Several of the walls of his home are covered with them. He served on many boards and committees, including the Commonwealth Fund, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Kaiser Foundation, General Motors, the Oklahoma State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies. He was a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
We would like to thank all his doctors, the hospice and other caregivers for their wonderful and kind treatment of him in his final illness. We also want to thank his many friends, colleagues and students for their help and prayers in this difficult time. We particularly want to thank the Dayspring Church of Christ family who were a great blessing to our father during his life. During his last days, their prayers and support were a great comfort to him, for which we will be eternally grateful.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions be made to the Edward N. Brandt, Jr. Student Fund at the College of Health, P.O. Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901. A viewing will be held on Thursday from noon to 9 p.m. at Baggerley Funeral Home, 930 S. Broadway, Edmond, Okla. A Memorial Service will be on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Room 150 of the College of Health Building, 801 NE 13th; Oklahoma City. A reception at the Faculty House will immediately follow.