Bernice Z. Brown M.D.

Brown, Bernice Z., M.D.,
A pioneer in the field of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery and the first woman to be accepted as an ophthalmology resident at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, died on December 24, 2003 in Glendale, California. At the time of her death, Dr. Brown was a Clinical Professor of ophthalmology and Fellowship Director of Ophthalmic Plastic, Orbital and Reconstructive Surgery at the Doheny Eye Institute of USC and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Doheny Eye Medical Group. She received her B.A. degree from UCLA and her M.D. from USC. Dr. Brown's internship and ophthalmology residency were conducted at LAC+USC Medical Center, following which she served fellowships in ophthalmic plastic, orbital and reconstructive surgery at UC San Francisco and the Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. She was a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) and served as its president in 1990. She was also featured in a book about the history of the organization that was published in 1994. Other professional memberships included the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Beard-Quickert Study Club which she founded in 1975, California Association of Ophthalmology, California Medical Association, Doheny/USC Professional Association, and Women in Ophthalmology (founding member). Awards and honors included Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha (medical school honorary society), Distinguished Alumnus Award (Doheny/USC Professional Association), Senior Achievement Award (American Academy of Ophthalmology), the prestigious Lester T. Jones Anatomy Award of ASOPRS, and Alumnus of the Year of the USC School of Medicine Recognized for her expertise in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Brown was a frequent invited guest lecturer at professional organizations and meetings throughout the United States, and was the author of numerous professional publications that spanned more than 30 years of her career. An inveterate traveler she visited Antarctica, Canada, many European countries, South America, Central America, the U.K., much of the US including Alaska and Hawai'i, Scandinavia, Russia, Australia and Africa. She also loved art, theater, ballet, river rafting, science, music, cinema and knitting. Dr. Brown is survived by her husband Donald S. Mullins of Las Vegas and daughters Trudy B. Brown of Denver and Melanie L. Brown of Los Angeles. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2004 at 2:30 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel, 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena. Individuals who plan to attend the memorial service are asked to make reservations via email to trulybrown@juno.com or by telephoning the Doheny Eye Institute at 323.442.7101. A memorial fund has been established to endow a fellowship in her name. Make checks payable to (with a note on memo line "Bernice Z. Brown, M.D. Fellowship): Doheny Eye Institute Development Office and mailed to: 1450 San Pablo Street, DEI-3050, L.A. CA 90033.