In Memory of Clifford W. Losh, Jr. M.D.

Clifford W. Losh Jr., M.D. passed away on August 11, 2004 at the Scripps memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA, following surgery for gangrenous choleystitis. He was 88 years of age.

Clifford Losh was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Roosevelt high school where he was an excellent student and a member of the schools winning football teams. Following high school, Cliff attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He studied premedical courses and received his medical degree in 1942. He interned at the Scott White Clinic in Temple, Texas, and was inducted into the U.S. Army Medical Service, serving from 1943 to 1946, Dr. Losh returned to Iowa City in 1946 for his Urology Residency with Professors Alcock and Flocks. In 1948 Cliff Losh Jr. joined his father, C.W. Losh, Sr. who had been practicing Urology since the mid 1930s at the Equitable Building in downtown Des Moines. Several years later he joined with Dr. John Fatland and Dr. William Shinkle in a new clinic located on Grand Avenue. Dr. Losh moved to the Des Moines Medical Center in 1971 where I joined him in 1972. We practiced together until his retirement in December 1979.

Dr. Losh was active on all of the Des Moines medical staffs, was a member of the AMA and all of the Urology Associations. He took an active role in the civic activities of Des Moines. Cliff and his wife, Donna, retired to Solana Beach, California where he played golf and continued an active role in civic, medical, and social organizations until his recent illness.

Clifford W. Losh had a zest for life and for his profession. He had an outgoing, easy, and gentle manner. He loved to hear and tell a good joke and in all the years I practiced with him I never heard him utter a profanity. Cliff loved his patients and put them to ease with his knowledge and respectful manner. He was a true gentleman.

Cliff and I practiced together as a good team and shared a father and son medical relationship. He was a quintessential professional man. He was dapper and debonair and extended a sense of gentility and civility.

Clifford Losh taught many young physicians, including myself, his technique of transurethral resection. To this day I still use his method. Dr. Losh’s friendly persuasion and good advice helped me become a better doctor, father, and person. Clifford W Losh, Jr. taught me the Art of Medicine, for which I shall always be grateful.

Dr. Clifford W. Losh, Jr. will be deeply missed by family, friends, colleagues, and me.