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We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Dr. Alexander R. Irvine, who passed away on September 14, 2024, at age 86 in Santa Rosa, California. His remarkable career at UCSF left a lasting impact on the field of ophthalmology, his patients, and countless students and colleagues.
After earning his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1964, Alex completed his ophthalmology residency at UCSF in 1968. He pursued two prestigious fellowships—one in corneal disease at the University of Florida, Gainesville with Dr. Herbert Kauffman, and another in retina at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute with Drs. Edward Norton and Robert Machemer. He became Assistant Chief of Ophthalmology at San Francisco’s Letterman Army Medical Center in 1970, and joined the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology as faculty in 1972. Dr. Irvine became Professor and Vice Chair of the Department. He led the Retina Division for many years, publishing seminal studies on retinal disease, including retinal phototoxicity, radiation retinopathy, and ocular complications of AIDS.
A rare combination of vitreoretinal surgeon and cornea expert, in addition to being an expert refractionist, Alex’s clinical expertise was matched by his deep compassion for his patients. Yet it was his devotion to teaching that truly set him apart. Residents treasured his humility and generosity. He advocated for their growth, creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. His selflessness and dedication were so impactful that UCSF’s annual Residents’ Day was named in his honor. He inspired countless UCSF Residents to pursue careers as leaders in Ophthalmology around the country, and trained international fellows who extended his impact globally. Alex was interviewed for his perspectives on Retina care in the Summer 2006 edition of Vision magazine (featured on p. 6).
Alex’s legacy will be forever cherished by the UCSF community. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Chauncy Irvine, his children Matthew and Mary, and his granddaughters Alexandra and Kathryn.
To honor Dr. Irvine’s memory, donations may be made to the All May See Foundation to establish the Dr. Alexander R. Irvine Resident Education Fund.