Donald George Skinner

August 5, 1938 - July 3, 2025 Dr. Donald George Skinner, 86, passed away peacefully on July 3rd in Santa Monica, California. HIs positive and loving impact as a father, grandfather, husband, world renowned surgeon and educator was profound and truly embodied a famous quote from Winston Churchill, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

He touched the lives of millions of people as a pioneer in the surgical treatment of bladder cancer and made significant contributions to the field of Urological Oncology. Recognized as a "surgeon's surgeon" as well as noted author, educator and academician, Don's innovative leadership, uncompromising dedication and groundbreaking research made the USC Department of Urology an international "go to" for complex urological issues during his 30-year chairmanship. Dr. Eila Skinner (not related), who trained and worked under him for nearly two decades and currently heads the Stanford Urology department stated in a 2019 article entitled The Surgeon Who United a Generation of Urology Patients -"He is the most ethical, thoughtful, brilliant clinician I've ever known and also probably the best open surgeon I've ever seen," she says. "He was technically adept, able to get out of any problem, very efficient - just magical."

Born August 5, 1938 in Joliet, Illinois, Don was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he developed a strong work ethic with summer jobs in construction starting in middle school. At Franklin High School, he was captain of the basketball team and an All-County performer. He was recruited to play at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and was captain of the basketball team, an All-League performer and president of his fraternity. He graduated from Wesleyan with his BS degree in 1960, entered Yale Medical School, married Shirley Lee Kenyon in 1962, and celebrated the birth of the first of his five children and the award of his MD degree in 1964.

Following his graduation from Yale, Don completed two years of general surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where Drs. Wyland F. Leadbetter and John Donahue noticed his superior surgical talent and helped him uncover his passion for Urology. After two additional years of general surgery in the US Air Force, he began his formal Urology residency under Dr. Leadbetter in 1968. Heavily recruited following the completion of his training, Don accepted a faculty position at UCLA where he served as Assistant and Associate Professor from 1971-1979. In 1980, he took over as head of the fledgling Urology Program at USC, at that time a clinical division with no federal research funding.

Over the course of the next 30 years at USC, Don built a robust department and urologic training program, specializing in major open surgery, with one of his groundbreaking innovations involving adapting the treatment of bladder cancer. Expanding on the prior innovative work of Dr. Niles Kock, he fashioned a new internal bladder from a section of intestine, developing a way to connect that new pouch to the urethra, restoring the body's natural urinary function. He considered "attention to detail" and surgical technique critical to his successful training of more than 100 urology residents and fellows.

Author of six books, 114 book chapters, over 300 peer reviewed articles, and 18 films on surgical techniques, he earned the high esteem of his colleagues and was awarded numerous top awards from various surgical oncology organizations. Despite being retired for over 15 years, he is still one of the ten most quoted physicians when it comes to Urologic Oncology.

His caring bedside manner with patients and warm and loving personality played an impactful role when it came to fundraising for the opening of the USC Norris Cancer Center, the USC University Hospital and many endowments to support testicular and bladder cancer research. In 2005, USC awarded him its top honor, the Presidential Medallion, in recognition of his contributions to the University and the Keck School of Medicine.

He was an amazingly supportive father to his five children and ten grandchildren as family time dominated his schedule away from his medical practice. He always made sure to recognize his wife Shirley for being the ultimate teammate during their sixty-two year journey together, often stating none of his success both personally and professionally would have happened without her.

Don was an avid sportsman in his limited free time and enjoyed competing in sports whether it was basketball, squash and tennis in his younger years and then developed a strong passion for golf. He loved playing with his sons and close friends, often hosting them at the Riviera Country Club where his surgical expertise led to members and celebrity types giving him the nickname of the "knife".

He was a big supporter of USC Athletics and was a season ticket holder for both football and basketball going back to 1981. He developed a love for the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics during his time in Boston and loved watching their games, especially in his retirement years.

He lived a remarkable life and embraced the USC "Fight On" spirit until the end.

Don is now reunited with his beloved wife, Shirley and daughter Carol who preceded him in death. He is survived by his children (Joan, Anne, Jim and John) and ten grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will take place in early October. In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to be made to the USC Bladder Cancer Research Fund at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (https://bit.ly/DrSkinner).