In Memoriam – Jeffrey Kaufman, MD
Passing of Dr. Jeffrey E. Kaufman
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Dr. Jeffrey E. Kaufman, Past President (2015, Indian Wells, CA). Dr. Kaufman passed away at home on May 25 from complications of Multi System Atrophy.
Dr. Kaufman was a pioneering leader and advocate in Health Policy who spoke passionately on the subject. He served as chair of the WSAUA Health Policy Committee from 2003 to 2013 and many of his actions carried through to the national AUA. Dr. Kaufman worked very hard to maintain the rights of Urologists, he always said “if you are not at the table, you will be on the menu”. He will be greatly missed.
His loss is deeply felt by the Western Section community. A few of those expressions from those who knew him well are as follows:
From Dr. Eugene Rhee, Health Policy Committee Chair 2018 to present, Immediate Past Chair Public Policy AUA, President- Elect Western Section AUA
To my fellow colleagues of the Western Section, I’m writing to express my profound sense of loss at the passing of Dr. Jeff Kaufman. He was more than a mentor and colleague to me; he was a cherished friend. Jeff played a pivotal role in fostering my interest in public policy within the field of urology. His influence on my career and personal growth is immeasurable and for that I’m eternally grateful. The picture below is a stark reminder of the circle of life, a cycle that often brings sorrow. However, it also underscores the joy of staying connected with each other, something the Western Section has weaved within us all. Let’s honor his memory in Kauai at our 100th meeting by reflecting and maintaining the close bonds we all value.
With heartfelt condolences, Eugene Rhee
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From Dr. Jeffrey Frankel, Past-President 2019, Health Policy Committee Chair 2014-2017
I first met Jeff when i was a surgical resident at UCSD, and he was a resident in the urology program in 1980. He was an inspiration to me and many others as an advocate for our profession and our patients regarding government affairs and health policy. He was a leader in multiple organizations and was always willing to educate us on what was going on in this complicated area. His lectures were always a "must see" at our meetings, He truly escalated the involvement of the Western section in this area and put us on the national map. He taught me and all of us a lot over his career and was a loss too soon.
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From Chris DeSantis, WSAUA Executive Director
I had the privilege of working with Jeff for over 15 years. He was intense, yet soft-spoken and always a gentleman who gave his time generously as a volunteer. He had an incredibly sharp intellect, could read hundreds of pages of legislation in his spare time and explain it all better and faster than imaginable. He was a joy to work with, not only because he made my job meaningful, but because he raised the bar on making us a more effective organization in service of our members. Rest in peace my friend.
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Indian Wells, 10/28/2015 - Dr. Kaufman presents a special recognition award to Dr. Emil Tanagho (1929-2024). Dr. Tanagho passed on March 1, 2024 see posting here
Dr. Kaufman's passing fills us with sadness, but we are comforted by his contributions, wisdom, and legacy which will continue to inspire us all. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Linda of 47 years, daughters Jennifer (Aryeh) and Lindsay (Anders) and grandchildren Ezra, Aaron, Isla, Kaia, and Bodhi. His family wrote: This dear man, with such a passion for life, who did everything to the fullest extent, and had an impact on so many, will be deeply missed.
