In memoriam: James J. Lane Jr.
Dr. James Lane passed away in April 2024. Dr. Lane was the first fellow to be trained in the Rheumatology Division at the University of Washington from 1958 to 1959. Dr. Lane was born in 1929 in Three Forks, Montana. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1951 and obtained his MD at UW in 1955.
After completing his rheumatology fellowship under the tutelage of Dr. John Decker, Dr. Lane was appointed as Clinical Instructor at UW. He then joined The Polyclinic in Seattle where he had a distinguished 40-year career as a rheumatologist. During his career, he was active with the Seattle Arthritis Foundation and the King County Medical Society. Dr. Lane retired in the year 2000.
Through the efforts of the Lane family and generosity of Dr. Lane’s patients, the James J Lane MD Endowed Fund for Arthritis was established. This endowment was used to initiate the annual Lane Lecture and Reception held in March each year. The event has been attended by the Lane family, their supporters and friends as well as UW rheumatology faculty, trainees past and present. Through this endowment, the Division invited distinguished rheumatology faculty to bring the latest ideas on research and patient care to UW. Since the inception of this lecture series, 14 leading experts from the USA and 8 eminent international speakers from overseas countries including the UK, Sweden, Germany and Japan have presented their research at the event. At the Lane Lecture Reception, the Lane family and friends were provided updates on progress in the division by the Division Head, were introduced to new faculty and learned about the ongoing research being performed by trainees.
Jim Lane will be missed by all of us who knew him and who appreciated his keen intellect, wit, worldliness and generous spirit. The members of the Rheumatology Division would like to express our condolences and sincere gratitude to Jim’s wife, Sue and their three children, Margaret, Mary and Jim as well as to their friends whose unflagging support of our Division has made a significant and enduring impact.
