Ronald Citron

Dr. Ronald Citron

Dr. Ronald Citron, a pioneer in the prevention and early detection of cancer, died on July 23 at his home in Calistoga, California. He was 74.

After early research in immunology and clinical work in medical oncology, Dr. Citron focused on preventive oncology. His passion for making prevention and early detection of cancer accessible to the public stemmed from years of seeing patients who had come to him too late for any treatment to be effective.

In 1992, just two years after the initiation of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Citron created The Clinical Computer, a home computer health risk assessment based on genetic analysis described by The New York Times as "a doctor on your desk." In 1997, his book Dr. Citron's Evolutionary Diet and Cookbook, an argument and manual for using Paleolithic eating for cancer prevention, was published. In 1998, he opened a private practice in preventive oncology in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.

Born Ronald Seth Citronbaum in Manhattan in 1940, Dr. Citron attended medical school at NYU before moving to Los Angeles in 1968. He conducted research at the Institute for Immunology Basel, named one of the world's ten cradles of creativity by the Nobel Foundation; served on the faculties of the University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles; and conducted research for the National Institutes of Health.

He served as medical director of the Los Angeles Free Clinic from 1969 to 1971, as medical spokesperson and lobbyist for the American Cancer Society, and as a technical consultant to the hit TV series thirtysomething.

In retirement, Dr. Citron enjoyed sailing, creating art, and tooling around his vineyard in a 20-year-old pickup truck. He is survived by his wife, Kathye Citron; his stepchildren Karen Murphy and Thomas Murphy; and his grandson Archimedes Lee.