Professor Emeritus Edward D. French, PhD, a dedicated educator, researcher and mentor at the college for 30 years, has passed away. Dr. French devoted his life to science, education and mentorship.
A gifted educator, Dr. French earned 14 teaching awards and was honored as a member of the Academy of Medical Education Scholars. His passion for teaching and research was matched only by his deep care for his students. As he once reflected, “The highlights of my academic life were having the privilege to interact with the best and brightest faculty and to mentor students striving to become accomplished scientists.”
Dr. French’s legacy endures through the countless minds he inspired, the lives he touched and the pursuit of knowledge he championed throughout his distinguished career. His life reflected his kind and generous spirit and an enduring dedication to fostering the well-being of those around him.
“Ed was one of the nicest and most down-to-earth colleagues who taught me pharmacology by challenging me — never directly giving me an answer but helping me come up with the correct answer on my own,” said Regents Professor and Department Head of Pharmacology Todd W. Vanderah, PhD. “We enjoyed talking about the human reward system and how drugs could lead to addiction, guiding me toward a research career in substance use disorder.”
Dr. French earned his doctorate in pharmacology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976, after which he pursued postdoctoral research at the Arthur Vining Davis Laboratory for Behavioral Pharmacology at the Salk Institute and later as an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich, Germany.
From 1980 to 1988, Dr. French served on the faculty of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. In 1988, he joined the University of Arizona College of Medicine, beginning a remarkable 30-year career that would leave a lasting mark on generations of students and colleagues.
“Ed was a talented scientist and a wonderful mentor,” said Art Rigel, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience, optical sciences, and pharmacology and a former doctoral student of Dr. French. “He had a gift for cutting through the noise to find the core of a scientific question, and he instilled in his students a rigorous curiosity that I know we all carry with us to this day. He nurtured independent thinkers. I will be forever grateful for his wisdom, his support and his belief in the potential of others.”
“Ed truly set the standard for academic excellence with his deep knowledge of pharmacology and his unwavering commitment to students,” said Frank Porreca, PhD, associate department head of pharmacology. “He was a wonderful colleague and friend with whom I could share the ups and downs of professional life as well as the day-to-day events of our world. Ed listened and freely shared his experiences in return, and always shared his friendship.”
At the University of Arizona, Dr. French rose from associate professor to full professor of pharmacology in 2001. He was director of the Pharmacology Graduate Program (1996–2005), director of the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics course (1993–2007), and block director for the Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Renal Block (2007–2015). He also served on various college committees, including the Curriculum Committee, Student Progress Committee, Student Appeals Committee, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Advisory Committee to Arizona Respiratory Center Training Program, Standing Subcommittee for Preparation for Clinical Medicine Course, Furrow Advisory Committee, Dean’s Search Committee, and many others.
Dr. French is survived by his beloved wife, Vicki Gotkin, his children, Lindsay Nicole French, MD, who was also one of his students while receiving her MD at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Nicholas French (Leah Kaye, MD). His grandchildren include Chloe French-Rosas, Charles French-Rosas, Franklin Alexander French-Rosas, and Benjamin and Martin French. He was also a loving and supportive stepfather to Kelsey and Steven Adler.
A celebration of Dr. French’s life will be held from noon – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 10, in Arizona Health Sciences Center Room 2117. All are welcome.