Naomi F. Rothfield, MD, one of the UConn School of Medicine’s first women faculty, passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
Rothfield, a professor of medicine who retired in 2016, was an internationally renowned rheumatologist. She led UConn Health’s Division of Rheumatology, training dozens of the world’s leading rheumatologists and specialized in lupus, scleroderma, and Raynaud disease. She was a Master of The American College of Rheumatology and received a lifetime achievement award from the Arthritis Foundation.
“We are sorry to hear of Naomi’s passing. She cared deeply about UConn Health and we always deeply cared about her,” shared Dr. Bruce T. Liang, UConn Health Interim CEO and dean of the School of Medicine.
A 1950 graduate of Bard College, Rothfield received her medical degree from NYU School of Medicine in 1955. She served her internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and completed a fellowship in rheumatology at NYU. She held several teaching positions at NYU, becoming assistant professor in 1964. She was a member of the first faculty of UConn School of Medicine, coming to UConn in 1968 as associate professor in the Department of Medicine. She became full professor in 1973. From 1973 to 1999, she served as chief of the Division of Rheumatology. She also directed the NIH/University of Connecticut Multipurpose Arthritis Center for 20 years, beginning in 1978.
“It is not often that one personally is in the presence of and gets to interact with a legend,” shared her trainee Dr. Santhanam Lakshminarayanan, chief Division of Rheumatology at UConn School of Medicine. “I am grateful for that experience as are many at UConn Health.”
Her enormous productivity, persistent pursuit of excellence, pioneering vision, relentless energy, and tireless championing of patient care, research and education were key in making UConn’s Division of Rheumatology nationally and internationally renowned. Her expertise has improved the quality of life of innumerable patients over the years and continues to impact positively on patients’ lives today. She was also instrumental in the education and training of a great number of rheumatologists who are currently in careers in both academic settings and private practice all across the country and the world.
“There is no price that can be put on a lifetime of such public service,” adds Lakshminarayanan. “She taught us all by example. Her patients have always been front and center in anything she did in her professional life, an ethos she imbued in us. Complete strangers have stopped me at international meetings after reading my name tag and seeing where I work to ask ‘How is Naomi?’ That encapsulates her impact, reach, influence and reputation and reveals the level of affection people have for her.”
To establish a division, start a training program, lead the division to international renown as the Lupus center of the east and keep the focus on patient care and continually strive to improve their lives is a phenomenal legacy.
Lakshminarayanan also shares: “I personally have learnt more than medicine and rheumatology from her. I have clarity of right from wrong and I am never afraid to speak my mind. She has taught me that patient advocacy is what you do as a physician, always. It is not a punchline or a separate career.”
He adds: “Naomi we are eternally in your debt. Bravo,”
Rothfield is predeceased by her loving husband Dr. Lawrence Rothfield, Professor Emeritus of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn School of Medicine, who passed away in December 2022. She is survived by her loving children Suzy, Larry, Jane and John and grandchildren Corrina, Allegra, Hannah, Shona, Jamie and Clara.
UConn Health sends their heartfelt condolences to her children and extended family, friends, and colleagues.
Learn more directly from Dr. Naomi Rothfield on her great career at UConn Health and legacy:
