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DLD—Role Model, Mentor and Friend: A Student’s Tribute to Donald L. Dungworth (1931–2005)Distinguished Professor of Pathobiology, Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan
The first time I met Professor Donald L. Dungworth, or DLD as he was better known to his students and faculty colleagues, was at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) in Albuquerque, NM over 20 years ago. I was a young and very green veterinarian and even greener postdoctoral fellow at this research institute, widely known for its work in inhalation toxicology. DLD, a middle-aged professor and chair of the Department of Pathology in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California-Davis (UCD), was part of a site-visit team of distinguished scientists, who were reviewing the current research activities at our institute for the U.S. Department of Energy. When the review panel filed into the large conference room at LRRI, I still remember seeing DLD with his sauntering stride. He had a slight smirk on his face and was wearing, I thought, rather conservative attire for a Californian, consisting of a navy blue blazer, light blue oxford shirt, striped tie and gray slacks. When it was his turn to introduce himself, he said in a modest manner and with a hint of a British accent, "Donald Dungworth, pulmonary pathology." Since I was especially interested in lung pathology at the time (and I still am), I was curious to see how this professor of veterinary pathology would scientifically stack up with the other members of the review team, who all came with impressive titles and from distinguished academic institutions or governmental agencies.
It soon became apparent to me and others in the room, that this veterinarian knew his stuff and was often called upon by his co-reviewers to give the final answer on any questions related to lung pathology or normal comparative anatomy of the respiratory system. He often was able to relate relevant findings, from his back-home team of pulmonary scientists at UCD and the National California Regional Primate Center, that were particularly pertinent to the work that was going on at LRRI. In addition, his carefully chosen queries often cut to the heart of the topic under discussion, sparing the audience from listening to lengthy questions and answers of little consequence. It was obvious that this pulmonary pathologist had the respect of his peers and the command of the situation. But what was most impressive to me at the time was the way he asked his questions—in a direct, but yet unassuming and never condescending manner, putting the LRRI presenter at ease to answer thoughtfully and clearly. After listening carefully to the presenter’s answer, he often followed with some bit of sound advice. A seasoned and selfless scientist was DLD. When I was deciding on where to go for a residency and graduate training in veterinary pathology, Fletcher Hahn, one of DLD’s former graduate students and head of pathology at LRRI, strongly encouraged me to consider the program at UCD. When I visited the campus later that year, DLD went out of his way to show me the best that his department, university, and the Davis community had to offer. He even lent me his bicycle, his daily mode of transportation from home to campus, so that I could check out apartments in the area. Though his schedule was demanding, he always took time for his students, and even potential students. In large part because of DLD, I did select UCD. As my academic mentor, I found Professor Dungworth the same unassuming, but respected and wise leader that I first saw in Albuquerque. He taught me a lot during my residency and graduate student days, including the basics of pathology, the importance of quality research, and the necessity of writing well in our profession. Often I would review lung cases with him at the two-headed microscope. He would listen tentatively with a characteristic stare, as he formulated a well thought out answer. When he retired from UCD, I drew a series of caricatures of DLD. In one of these drawings I tried to capture that intense look that he would give as you anticipated his verbal response (see caricature next to photo). DLD and I became good friends and colleagues. After leaving UCD, I would never hesitate to call him if I needed one of his slides for teaching or if I needed some sound advice on a potential job or career change. And he never hesitated to help me, even when my head was adorned with as many gray hairs as his. Don passed away on February 14, 2005, in Bayside, California, USA. He had been suffering from cancer quietly for some time. He will be best remembered for his distinguished career in veterinary pathology, his love of teaching, his dry sense of humor, and his ability to always look on the bright side of life. Don L. Dungworth was born on July 16, 1931, in Hathersage, England, located in the Peak District of rural Derbyshire. He received his veterinary degree from the University of Liverpool in 1956 followed by a residency in pathology at the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. In 1957, DLD entered a Ph.D. program in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UCD. He received his Ph.D. in 1961. From 1961 to 1962 he was on the faculty of the University of Bristol, England, School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1962, he returned to Davis, CA to join the faculty of the Department of Pathology in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UCD. DLD remained there for more than 30 years, serving as Chair of the Department for 22 years. As Chair, he lead one of the largest and most widely recognized veterinary pathology graduate training programs in the world. Dr. Dungworth gained an international reputation as an expert in the field of inhalation toxicology and respiratory pathology, and this led to the building of a large multi-disciplinary research program in pulmonary toxicology and pathology recognized for its excellence throughout the world. The UCD program, funded by the National Institutes of Health, elucidated the impact of ozone and related air pollutants in urban smog as sources of injury to the pulmonary airways. The work of DLD and his colleagues provided key research information for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that resulted in national ambient air quality standards set down by the Clean Air Act. Similar national standards are now used by many countries throughout the world. The Center for Comparative Respiratory Pathobiology and Medicine at UCD and the National California Regional Primate Center continue today as premier respiratory research programs, thanks in part to the past leadership of DLD and his colleagues. During his career, DLD traveled widely, serving on a number of state, national and international advisory panels, on editorial boards, and as President of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. He established a particularly close relationship with the Hanover Medical School and the Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, receiving a German Academic Exchange Fellowship in 1984 and an Alexander von Humboldt Senior Research Award in 1990, both of which he spent in Hannover, Germany. Together with Professor Ulrich Mohr and the International Life Sciences Institute, he co-organized a series of histopathology seminars in Germany, United States, and Japan, and inhalation symposia, which earned wide international acclaim. DLD is survived by his wife of 42 years, Teri, his daughter Dawn Elersbee, her husband and family of Bayside, California, and his son Duncan and his wife and family of Roseville, California. I, along with all of his many other students and colleagues, deeply miss DLD, but his knowledge, kindness, generosity, mentorship and his overall good nature are not forgotten. Thanks, DLD.
Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 34, No. 3,
250-251 (2006)
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