Dr. Nancy E. Warner, physician, pathologist, teacher and mentor died peacefully in the late afternoon of August 17, 2020 at the age of 97. Born in 1923 in Dixon, Illinois, Dr. Warner’s interest in medicine was first sparked when she received a microscope as a gift from her parents as a young girl, which she used to examine grains of salt and soil, and feathers and leaves that she collected around her home.
She was one of only seven women admitted to the University of Chicago School of Medicine in 1944, earning her M.D. in 1949. Her inspiration to focus on pathology as her chosen field of expertise came from two successful women pathologists at the University of Chicago, Drs. Edith Potter and Eleanor Humphreys, who became lifelong friends.
Subsequently, Dr. Warner held positions in pathology at the University of Chicago and associated hospitals, and at Cedars Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, before accepting a faculty position at the School of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1965. Approximately one year later, she returned once again to Los Angeles as a faculty recruit to the University of Southern California School of Medicine, now the Keck School of Medicine, where she remained for the duration of her long career.Subsequently, Dr. Warner held positions in pathology at the University of Chicago and associated hospitals, and at Cedars Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, before accepting a faculty position at the School of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1965. Approximately one year later, she returned once again to Los Angeles as a faculty recruit to the University of Southern California School of Medicine, now the Keck School of Medicine, where she remained for the duration of her long career.
At USC, Dr. Warner distinguished herself as a surgical pathologist specializing in endocrine pathology, publishing her work in scientific journals and in a textbook that received wide acclaim as state of the art for many years. She was a gifted and celebrated teacher of medical students, residents and fellows and received numerous awards for teaching at local and national levels. Of special note, she developed a large collection of high-quality photographic images of gross and microscopic surgical pathology and autopsy specimens from all major organs, prepared from work spanning more than three decades. She used these images to teach anatomic pathology and diagnostic principles and to assist colleagues around the world with diagnosis of rare conditions, especially involving tumors. This collection was donated to the USC Norris Medical Library, where the slides were digitized and made available for use by the USC community.
In 1972, Dr Warner was appointed Chair of the Department of Pathology of the USC School of Medicine, and subsequently named the Hastings Professor of Pathology. This was a groundbreaking appointment for women, as she was not only the first woman chair at the USC School of Medicine, but was also the first woman chair of a pathology department in a co-educational institution in the United States. She was a passionate supporter of women medical students, fellows and faculty, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Medical Faculty.
Women’s Association (MFWA) and the associated MFWA Research Fund, which was used to provide small grants for women initiating research projects or in need of bridging funding gaps. The MFWA provided essential support for faculty development and advancement for women in the Schools of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Pharmacy over three decades after its establishment in 1981.
Dr. Warner was also active in national efforts to support women in academia, including Women in Medicine (WIM) and the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Women Faculty Leadership Programs, and was an avid advocate for gender equity in academia at all levels. She secured her support of women by donations to the MFWA Research Fund, and more recently, provided a gift to the University of Chicago to create three mechanisms to support research in gender and sexuality studies, professional development and research scholarships for women faculty in the humanities. She has also donated a large volume of papers, lecture notes, photos and personal items to the University of Chicago Library that are open for research purposes.
Dr. Warner served as Chair of the Department of Pathology for eleven years, stepping down to continue practicing surgical pathology at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. She strongly believed that chair positions should be held no longer than ten years to avoid entrenchment of leadership styles and to allow new ideas and directions to emerge. In 1993, Dr. Warner officially retired, but remained active in the USC community to teach and serve as a board member for the MFWA Research Fund, the Edmondson Faculty Center and the Retired Faculty Association. She received the USC Distinguished Emeriti Award in 1996, and the USC Emeriti Center’s Inaugural Paul E. Hadley Faculty Award for Service to USC in 2009. As an honored USC faculty member, Dr. Warner’s 2002 USC Living History Project interview is on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUAEX91OUOA) and is available for viewing in the USC Library.
Dr. Warner’s personal life was just as rich as her professional life. She had a life-long passion for photography that began at about the age of 7 or 8, when she received her first camera—a Brownie that cost one dollar. She continuously honed her photographic skills to document her extensive world-wide travels. Her favorite trips were to Antarctica, the Amazon and Siberia, though she could spin tales about her visits on each and every continent. In her later years, she became interested in genealogy, tracing her family tree for hundreds of years, and took up advocacy for environmental causes. At home in Pasadena, she documented the many species of birds that visited her gardens, and delighted in visits from wildlife as diverse as bobcats, lizards, coyotes, raccoons and more.
Dr. Warner is survived by her nephews Henry Nichols and Dr. Peter Nichols and his wife Jody, her niece Nancy Nichols, her great nephews Dr. Peter Nichols Jr. and his wife, Arshya Adeli, Dr. Benjamin Nichols and his wife, Dr. Kambridge Hribar, and Jeffrey Fritts. She also leaves behind great niece Christina Carr, great-grandnieces Lucienne and Mitra, and great-grandnephews Lucan and Arman. She was preceded in death by her wife and partner of 60 years, Christine Reynolds, her parents, Henry and Lucile Warner, two sisters, Myra (Tatter) Nichols and Dr. Louise (Webe) Warner and nephew George (Chip) Nichols. She also leaves behind a large community of dear friends and colleagues, and a wonderful team of dedicated caregivers. Her resilience, her curiosity and her zest for life will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in support of either of the following:
The Nancy E. Warner Fund: This award recognizes excellence in a fourth-year medical student pursuing a career in pathology. In honor of Dr. Warner, a Donation can be made using this link, or you may mail your contribution to Molly Gervais (mgervais@usc.edu) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, 1975 Zonal Avenue, KAM B16, Los Angeles, CA 90033-9026.
The USC Emeriti Center Endowment Fund: This fund supports retired USC faculty and staff in living healthy and purposeful lives through inclusive intergenerational education, service, and advocacy. To remember Dr. Warner with an endowment contribution, you may donate online at the following link: http://bit.ly/EmeritiCenterEndow or you may contact 213-740-7121
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