Philip D. Lumb

Philip D. Lumb, M.B., B.S., M.D., M.C.C.M., passed away on Friday evening, April 11, 2025, under the compassionate and singular care of the University of Southern California Hospital System - an institution that was an integral part of his life.
Philip was born in London, England, to Dr. George and Joan Lumb. In his early teenage years, the family moved to the United States, where Philip attended high school at Phillips Exeter Academy. He went on to receive his B.A. from Cornell University before returning to London to complete his M.B. and B.S. at the Westminster Hospital School of Medicine. It was there he met a young nursing student, Christine Nairac, who would become his lifelong partner. Philip and Christine were married shortly thereafter and remained inseparable for the next 52 years. After completing postgraduate training, Philip and Christine returned to the United States, where Philip completed a residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in critical care medicine, while also serving as Chief Resident at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Over the next forty years, Philip became a leader in academic medicine, anesthesiology, and critical care. After serving as Medical Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Duke University, he went on to chair the Departments of Anesthesiology at three institutions: Albany Medical College, the Penn State College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center, and finally, the University of Southern California. He published numerous articles and books, served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Critical Care, and was widely recognized as a gifted lecturer. Philip was an active and ardent supporter of the medical community, serving as both President and Secretary-General of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. He was also a member of many professional societies, including the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Over the course of his career, Philip's lifelong devotion to the science and practice of anesthesia was recognized by numerous awards. In 2012, the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists conferred its Lifetime Achievement Award to Philip for his many years of service. Likewise, the Academy of Anesthesiology honored him with its Citation of Merit. He was also the recipient of the Handcock Prize from the Royal College of Surgeons and the Hilmer Burchardi Award from the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
Philip is preceded in death by his parents, George and Joan Lumb. He is survived by his wife Christine, his daughter Alexine Ross, his son Jean-Philip, his daughter-in-law Abigail Gerhold and his cousin Peter Sutherland. His memory and character live on in his grandchildren - Brady Ross and Carson Weigle and Elodie and William Lumb - who were a continual source of pride and joy. Philip's legacy endures in the generations of physicians he mentored. His gentle manner, quiet confidence, determined leadership, and most importantly, his loyal friendship, will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Donations can be made to St. Camillus (Memory of Dr. Philip Lumb)
1911 Zonal Ave LA CA 90033
Tel: (323) 225- 4461 info@stcamiluscenter.org www.stcamilluscenter.org
St. Camillus Center is a Catholic parish and functions primarily as interfaith chaplains serving LA General, Norris and Keck Medical Centers where Dr. Lumb served for many decades. St. Camillus hosts an accredited ACPE training center for chaplains and Dr. Lumb served for many years on the Professional Advisory Committee. We celebrate his life of service.