University Times

Brian V. Jegasothy, former chair of dermatology in the School of Medicine, died last month of cancer and Parkinson's disease. He was 58.

A native of Sri Lanka, Jegasothy came to Pitt as professor of dermatology and chair of the department in 1987, a position he held until 1999. Prior to that he held appointments at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Yale University School of Medicine, where he did his dermatology residency. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1961 and a medical degree in 1966, both at the University of Ceylon. He also held a master's from Penn.

He was a member of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Federation for Clinical Research and the American Society for Dermatologic Allergy and Immunology, among others.

Author of several books and hundreds of articles, abstracts and chapters, Jegasothy was a frequent consultant and held several visiting professorships. At Pitt, he served on numerous academic committees, including the medical school executive committee, the graduate medical training subcommittee and committees on residency training for occupational medicine, and health and safety at the Graduate School of Public Health.

Jegasothy helped found the Asian Indian Christian Church of Pittsburgh, an organization serving local members of the Indian subcontinent community.

His wife, Juliet, is medical director of the managed care division at UPMC Health System.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Asian Indian Christian Church of Pittsburgh, 3503 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh 15217.