Dr. Carolyn Kimme-Smith

bituary-Dr. Carolyn Kimme-Smith August 1, 2008

Dr. Carolyn Kimme Smith passed away July 23, 2008 at the age of 74. She resided in Newport Beach with her husband of 32 years, Hal W. Smith Jr. She is survived by her three children and their families: Ernest G. Kimme, Beth Kimme Shevin, Rory Shevin, Karl F. Kimme and Cheryl Kimme. She also leaves behind her four grandchildren, Amber E. Shevin, age 21, Rory Jesse Shevin, age 17, Graydon K. Kimme, age 11, and Samuel Will Kimme, age 9.

Dr. Carolyn Kimme-Smith was a breast cancer survivor who tirelessly donated her time and energy to many issues, primarily focused on early detection of breast cancer. She obtained her PhD at the age of 48 and the body of work accomplished following that accomplishment is impressive. It demonstrates the quality of the woman, her drive and determination and the support and love she received from her husband, children, and colleagues.

Dr. Kimme-Smith attended Pomona College in Claremont from 1950-52, graduated with a BA in Mathematics from University of Minnesota (1953), obtained an MS from New York University (Courant Institute) in Numerical Analysis (1960), and received her PhD from University of California, Irvine, Irvine School of Medicine in Radiological Sciences (1982). Dr. Kimme-Smith obtained her Board Certification from the American Board of Radiology in Medical Imaging (1988) and her Board Certification from the American Board of Medical Physics (1990).

Dr. Kimme-Smith had a varied and continuous career initially as a programmer and later as a medical physicist. She was employed as an Associate member of the technical staff at Bell Telephone Labs in Murray Hills New Jersey from 1960 to 1965. She then relocated to the west coast and worked as a programmer for ARINC Research in Santa Ana California from 1966 to 1967. Dr. Kimme-Smith owned and operated Carolyn Kimme Programming Services, a job shop for scientific programming from 1967 to 1972. She then worked as a Senior Programmer-Department of Engineering, University of California at Irvine, on Computer Analysis of Medical Images from 1970-78.

She earned her doctorate at the California School of Medicine, UC Irvine from 1977 to 1982.

From 1982-84, Dr. Kimme-Smith became a post-doctoral scholar at UCLA, Division of Medical Physics, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCLA School of Medicine, both positions in the Department of Radiological Sciences.

From 1984 to 2000, Dr. Kimme-Smith’s career was devoted to research, primarily in breast imaging, and ultrasound, and to teaching medical physicists, and residents in Radiology. During this period she moved from Adjunct Assistant Professor to full Professor In Residence in the UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Radiological Sciences. She was also a member of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Kimme-Smith participated in the following professional activities and was a member of the following organizations: American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 1987 to 1993; American Association of Physicists in Medicine-various positions including Board of Directors 1987-2000; American College of Radiology 1995-2000; Radiological Society of North American 1993-2000; Society of Breast Imaging 1995-99; IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference 1995-98; American Association of Physicists in Medicine, workshop chairman 1989-1991; Ultrasound Quality Control, Memphis Tennessee 1991; Hands on Ultrasound Quality Control Course AAPM 1995-98; World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, International Meeting Session Moderator, France 1997; Government Grant Reviewer 1988-2000.

August 1, 2008

Dr. Kimme-Smith maintained membership on the following committees: UCLA-Radiation Safety; Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women; Physics Advisory Committee; Medical Radiation Safety-Radiological Sciences; Executive Policy Committee-Radiological Sciences; Basic Scientist Recruitment Committee-Radiological Sciences; Strategic Planning Committee-Radiological Sciences; Incentive Committee-Radiological Sciences; Resident Selection Committee-Academic Senate; Graduate Council-Academic Senate; Task Group on Post Doctoral Scholars-Academic Senate; Committee on Degrees Program-Academic Senate, Chairman of the Task Group on Graduate Fellowships-Academic Personnel; Review of Promotions; Chancellors Enrollment Advisory Committee-1990-2000; Biomedical Physics Graduate Department-Transition Committee; Medical Imaging Division Representative 1993-95.

Dr. Kimme-Smith taught Graduate classes at UCLA, including Medical Physics Lecture and Lab, Medical Ultrasound, Breast Imaging Physics and Instrumentation, and Physics of Diagnostic Radiology.

Throughout her professional career and into retirement, Dr. Kimme-Smith lectured extensively in the US and internationally on the topics of Medical Physics, Ultrasound, and digital Mammography.

Dr. Kimme-Smith performed clinical service functions at various public funded hospitals and women’s centers, calibrating mammography equipment and compiling statistics for ongoing quality assurance in low-income medical facilities.

During her lifetime, Dr. Kimme-Smith enjoyed sailing and traveling with her husband Hal W. Smith Jr., writing mysteries, swimming, gardening, cooking, and reading.

The family is hosting a Memorial Celebration to celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Carolyn Kimme-Smith on August 9^th, 2008 at their home in Newport Beach, from 1-5 in the afternoon with a sharing of memories from 3 to 4. Ashes will be scattered as sea in a private ceremony at a later date.

The family request that donations can be made to the UCI Foundation/Center for Citizen Peace Building, Attn: Center for Citizen Peace Building, Paula Garb, University of California, Irvine, 3151 Social Science Plaza, Irvine, CA 92697-5100, www.socsi.uci.edu/~cpb