Dr. Marjorie Braude, 80; Wife of Ex-L.A. Councilman Ran Domestic Violence Task Force

Dr. Marjorie Braude, a psychiatrist who chaired the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Task Force and spearheaded programs to curb abuse of women and children, has died. She was 80.

Braude, the wife of Marvin Braude, who served as a Los Angeles city councilman from 1965 to 1997, died Feb. 7 at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica of an abdominal infection following surgery.

In 1994, Braude, with her husband’s co-sponsorship, initiated a landmark conference on domestic violence attended by more than 450 police officers, social workers, judges, doctors and victims advocates.

Braude called for greater coordination within the justice system to stop family batterers and announced a $10,000 domestic violence trust fund.

Braude subsequently was named chairwoman of the task force, organized similar programs around the city and designed a website to educate police officers, physicians and others on domestic violence intervention.

The psychiatrist, who was still in practice at the time of her death, also served on the Los Angeles County Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Commission, and worked to establish diversion programs for juveniles.

Braude worked throughout her long career to promote women in healthcare. She also advocated universal healthcare and gender equality in medical research by including more women as test subjects.

She was the editor of the book “Women, Power and Therapy” and served as president of the medical staff of Westwood Psychiatric Hospital.

Braude graduated from the University of Chicago medical school in 1950, and as a woman and a married one at that, was rejected as a resident by five Chicago hospitals before she found one to accept her.

“I had to swear before this all-male committee that I was going to use birth control and I was not going to get pregnant as an intern,” she told The Times in 1992 before discussing advancement among women physicians at a meeting of the American Assn. of University Women.

In addition to her husband of 55 years, Braude is survived by two daughters, Liza and Ann; a sister, Carol Moss; and two grandchildren.