Remembering B. Dwight Culver, MD

It is with great sadness that I share the passing of Dr. B. Dwight Culver, professor emeritus of the Department of Medicine, who passed away peacefully over the weekend at 99 years old. Dr. Culver leaves behind an indelible legacy at the UCI School of Medicine as the founding director of both the Occupational and Environmental Health Residency Program and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.

Dr. Culver received his medical degree from Stanford University in 1953, after serving our country in World War II, and came to UCI in 1972. During his career, he researched environmental exposure and response measurement to chemicals, particularly to the element boron, and was published on numerous occasions. One of his most notable achievements was helping establish occupational and environmental health centers in Northern and Southern California in 1979 after the discovery of infertility among workers exposed to the pesticide DBCP. The discovery revealed a need to improve research and training on injuries and occupational disease prevention in California, and Dr. Culver worked with the California legislature and the University of California to champion making centers dedicated to this cause, including the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at UCI.

Dr. Culver was a fellow of the American College of Occupational Medicine and the American Medical Association, as well as a former member of the California Scientific Guidance Panel. He remained actively involved in the UCI community throughout his retirement as a mentor and as a member of the UCI Occupational and Environmental Health Residency Program that he helped found.

In his free time, Dr. Culver was an artist known for his beautiful water color and oil paintings. Our hearts go out to his wife Dr. Hoda Anton-Culver, distinguished professor of medicine, as well as their seven children and grandchildren and many friends and colleagues. He will be truly missed.