Judith Ladinsky

MADISON- Judith L. Ladinsky, age 73, of Madison, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2012, from stroke-related complications.

Judy was born June 16, 1938, in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in New York City and received degrees from the University of Michigan and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin. She was a professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences in the UW Medical School for over 30 years and was director of the Office of International Health. She held an affiliation with the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. Judy assisted numerous graduate and medical students secure International Health rotations where they learned firsthand about global health issues.

Her early work in cell biology led to lifesaving advances in the prevention of mother-baby blood type incompatibility. In the early 1970's, she changed her career focus to preventive medicine on a community level linking rural clinics to centralized specialty care. She began this in rural Wisconsin, progressing to the Indian Health Service and finally to Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam.

Judy first went to Vietnam during the post war chaos of 1978, a time when the US did not have diplomatic relations with the country. She developed an instant passion for the nation and its people. In 1980, she became the Chair of the Health Committee of the US Committee for Scientific Cooperation with Vietnam. In 1984, she became the Chair of this organization, a position she held until her death. In this capacity, Judy made over 112 trips to Vietnam during which she delivered tons of medical supplies, books and journals to medical trainees and professionals throughout Vietnam. She assisted with lab development, training of scientific technicians and surgeons, teaching in a wide range of disciplines alongside her village health work.

Judy also facilitated the treatment of numerous critically ill Vietnamese children at US medical centers, enabling their receipt of life saving therapies not available in their homeland. She opened doors for hundreds of Vietnamese students to obtain higher education at US Universities. Her achievements are too many to be listed. She changed many lives. Numerous people throughout the US and Southeast Asia will be forever grateful. For her extraordinary medical service to Vietnam, Judy has been honored by Ministries and organizations at home and abroad. Most recently, she received the prestigious 2011 Peacemaker of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.

Judy is survived by her sister, Nina, a physicist in Los Angeles, CA, husband Jack, a retired UW Sociologist, daughter, Morissa, a pediatrician in Cincinnati, OH and son Mark, a microbiologist in Pasadena, CA. Also, by her son in law Mitchell Cohen and grandchildren, 14 year old Andy and 11 year old, Nicole of Cincinnati. Judy's family sends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Pine View Living, her home for the past 9 months, her numerous Vietnamese friends and colleagues and all those who assisted her in her endeavors.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate her life will be held in the early spring, to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to: Madison Quaker's Inc. (Vietnam Project), 1112 Grant Street, Madison, WI 53711