Dr. Lawrence S. Friedman

Dr. Lawrence S. Friedman
June 21, 2021
San Diego
Brilliant, kind hearted and generous of spirit, Dr. Lawrence S. Friedman was both a pillar of our San Diego community and a friend to many people from different walks of life. We lost Dr. Friedman, aged sixty-nine, on June 21, 2021.He was an accomplished physician: Dr. Friedman joined UCSD Medical School in 1994 as a professor of pediatrics and medicine and since 2014 he was the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. As associate dean, Dr. Friedman managed oversight of ambulatory quality, safety and primary care, managed care, occupational medicine and telemedicine. Dr. Friedman dedicated his life to provide care to those most at risk of missing out on it: He oversaw a comprehensive program for teenagers and young adults infected with HIV, as well as provided preventive and primary care for HIV-positive patients. He co-founded a mobile van collaborative, which continues to provide free health care to homeless and runaway youth. He also founded the UCSD Clinical Telemedicine Program and traveled broadly to promote it, ensuring specialty consultation both statewide and internationally to those unable to access quality care in their local environments. His forward-thinking and compassionate work additionally included medical oversight of a charter high school and adolescent psychiatric facility. He oversaw two adolescent medicine clinics and was actively engaged in training the next generation of medical students, residents, and fellows to follow in his footsteps.The son of an artist, Larry was also an active and generous supporter of all things creative: as well as being an avid art collector himself, he was on the Boards of both the La Jolla Playhouse and the Museum of Photographic Arts. Furthermore, he ensured his mother's Holocaust sculpture had a permanent installation in a former synagogue in Germany.His creativity in the medical profession also knew no bounds, as he authored more than 50 publications, including original research, book chapters, review articles, monographs, and medical society position statements.In recent years, on top of his role at UCSD, he was co-chair of the University Health System Consortium Ambulatory Care steering committee; served as a member of the Pay for Performance Implementation Advisory Task Force at the National Quality Forum; and was a member of the Agency for Health Care Research Study Section on Health Care Technology and Decision Science.Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Friedman completed his residency and fellowship training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. He earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Prior to UCSD, he practiced internal and adolescent medicine at Harvard Medical School.Dr. Friedman is survived by his sister, Margie Friedman; brother, Gerry Friedman; and nephew, Kenny Friedman (fianc, Jillian Lipstone). He is predeceased by his parents, Steffi and Al Friedman of Westport, CT. He also leaves behind many friends, colleagues, and the innumerable lives he helped to save, who will continue to honor his memory in the years to come. In lieu of flowers, we kindly suggest a donation. Checks may be made payable to: Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego with "Lawrence S. Friedman Fund" in the memo section and mailed to 4950 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92123.For credit card donations, please visit, http://jcfsandiego.org/go/creditcard. Using the drop-down menu for 'Designation of Funds' and select the Lawrence S. Friedman Fund.