With great sadness, we mourn the loss of one of our most distinguished UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences alumni, Dr. James T. Goodrich, who passed away yesterday in New York, from COVID-19. Dr. Goodrich was an internationally renowned neurosurgeon who served as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. To us, he was also a lifelong Dunlop School mentor and friend who, with his wife, Judy, made a generous gift to the School. The James Tait Goodrich Award for Excellence in Neurobiology in Honor of James McGaugh endows an award recognizing an undergraduate student completing his or her junior year for outstanding achievement in neurobiology.
In a 2018 interview, Dr. Goodrich told us, “Because of Jim McGaugh, I have concentrated on providing mentorships my whole career in medicine, and that includes people coming in from all over the world. His influence is still with me over four decades later.”
Professor McGaugh expressed his sorrow upon hearing the news. “As you know, he was an undergraduate research student in my lab and, later, a close friend. He was an inspiring person who came from a humble background and worked his way up from community college to UCI and became one of the world’s leading pediatric neurosurgeons. He was also a generous supporter of undergraduate scholarship here. He was truly remarkable.”
Dr. Goodrich has changed the lives of countless people for the better. We resolve to carry out his legacy through our continued commitment to world-class life sciences education that will make a difference for generations to come.
Stay Healthy,
Frank M. LaFerla, PhD
Dean and Chancellor’s Professor