08/14/2021

Joseph Litner, MD, PhD FACEP

The Passing of a Legend

 

Joseph Litner, MD, PhD, FACEP passed away at the age of 75 in his home in Dupont, WA on the 15th of May, 2021 after a painful and heroic battle with hepatocellular carcinoma. He leaves behind his wife, Maria Hugi, MD, his sister Bluma Litner, PhD, and his two sons, David and Jonathan. Originally born on July 6th, 1945 in Montreal, Canada to the late David Litner and Sylvia Litner, Dr. Litner enjoyed a long and successful career serving in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Washington as a well-respected emergency medicine physician.

As one of the early pioneers of emergency medicine, he dedicated his career to teaching and passing on his wealth of knowledge to the next generation. His career was well-decorated, earning the Charity Hospital Hurricane Katrina Award for “selfless and courageous commitment to humanity in the face of relentless adversity.” After moving to Washington State, Dr. Litner and his wife, Dr. Hugi, both served as attending physicians in the Emergency Medicine residency program at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord beginning in 2005 and were active participants in resident and medical student education. While at Madigan, he was awarded multiple teaching awards  as well as the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service “for exceptionally meritorious service while serving as a Medical Officer.” He and Dr. Hugi continued to serve as faculty at Madigan until 2020 when his diagnosis was discovered. 

He is warmly remembered and sorely missed by the entire Madigan family, but especially by over 15 years of Emergency Medicine residents who will fondly recall his cheerful attitude, approachable personality, encyclopedic knowledge, and occasionally esoteric—but always invaluable—teaching both on and off shift. Dr. Litner’s life serves as an example we can all strive to, dedicated to our craft in emergency medicine both as leaders and as individual providers, teachers, and mentors, every day.