Jeffrey Lynn Conklin

February 20, 1950 - August 8, 2022 Dr. Jeffrey Lynn Conklin passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on August 8th, 2022 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
Dr. Conklin was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on February 20th, 1950. He grew up in the shadow of the University of Iowa, where he would later study and begin an exceptional career as a gastroenterologist.
Jeff earned a degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, and was the first college graduate in his family. While an undergraduate, Dr. Conklin worked in a lab and fell in love with medical science. He enrolled in the University Iowa Medical School where he excelled. His education and career took him to Oxford, UK, Worcester, MA, back to Iowa City, IA, to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and finally to Los Angeles where he was the director of The Esophageal Center of Excellence at Cedars Sinai-Medical Center, and then to UCLA where he helped launch the Robert G Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health as the center's medical director. He held that position until his passing. He continued to run fellowship programs throughout his career, and won numerous teaching awards. He still included "soccer coach" on his latest curriculum vitae, which also featured a 50-page bibliography of published research and other professional accomplishments.
He leaves behind two sons, Ross and Kent, and his wife Debra. He also leaves behind an extended family he loved. Dr. Conklin touched thousands of lives in the many roles he took on during his life. He will live on through the values he passed on, his writing, research, teaching, coaching, family, and countless proteges. He had an exceptional 72 years of life, and we will miss him.