A pioneer in the field of pediatric cardiology, a medical mentor
and a best friend to a former University of California president,
Dr. Arthur J. Moss, a professor emeritus at the David Geffen School
of Medicine, died July 14 of kidney failure. He was 90.
Moss, coming to UCLA from a private clinic in Inglewood in 1952,
began his tenure on campus as an assistant clinical professor of
pediatrics. He was the executive chairman of the department of
pediatrics from 1967 to 1977 and later became the head of the
pediatric cardiology division.
Before Moss, “there really were no specialists of heart
disease in children, particularly on the West Coast,” said
Dr. Thomas Klitzner, current head of pediatric cardiology and
Moss’ nephew.
Klitzner added Moss is responsible in some way for the nearly
100 pediatric cardiologists that practice in the southwest United
States.
Moss, who has an auditorium in the medical school named after
him, contributed to his field in numerous ways, and his legacy at
UCLA is indelible.
His enthusiasm for the campus came from his love for academics
and his colleagues and because he witnessed the UCLA medical school
rise to the top of the ranks while he was here, said son Dr. Tom
Moss, a pediatric oncologist.
In addition to his three children and several nieces and nephews
that attended UC schools, Moss has another tie that connects him to
the helm of the nation’s most prestigious university
system.
Moss was a lifelong friend of former UC President David Saxon
since their days of infancy in St. Paul, Minn. Though technically
Moss was Saxon’s uncle, their age proximity ““ only six
years apart ““ made them “the most intimate of friends
for 80 years,” Saxon said, noting their arrivals in the UC
were independent of each other. Saxon served as the UC’s head
official from 1975-1983.
Saxon said more than anything he will miss the discussions he
frequently had with Moss.
“We used to discuss everything: politics, medicine, the
university,” Saxon said. He added laughingly about what
he’ll miss most about Moss: “He was calm about
everything except (President) George W. Bush, the Bush-bashing
““ I’ll miss that.”
His colleagues will miss his wisdom.
“A lot of what we take for granted as facts that were
always there “¦ he’s the one who established all those
facts,” said Dr. Edward McCabe, executive chairman for the
pediatrics department.
Beyond his medical achievements, Tom said he wanted his father
to be remembered for two things: his ability to meet every
challenge and his integrity.
As a father, Tom said Moss continually was teaching his children
about how to conduct life and teaching them in a
“nonjudgmental way.”
Tom’s two sisters, Patsy and Stephanie, took different
paths from the male members of the family when they pursued careers
of acting. But eventually both settled on a profession closer to
that of their father: teaching.
Both Klitzner and Tom say they are following in Moss’
footsteps and speak of the significant influence he’s had on
their family.
Four members of Moss’ family in Tom’s generation are
pursuing fields in medicine ““ three are in pediatrics and two
in pediatric cardiology.
Tom added that among myriad things he is grateful his father
introduced his children to their “second home”:
UCLA.
Moss took his children to observe the research being conducted
in his workplace and introduced them to Bruin sporting events. Both
Tom and his oldest sister attended UCLA, with Tom attending the
campus as an undergraduate and a medical student.
“(He) made me a Bruin fan through and through,” Tom
said.