Patricia Lynne - Davies

Patricia (Pat) died peacefully in Southport, North Carolina on Monday, November 30, 2020, at 87. A staunchly proud native of Wales, she was born July 4, 1933, to Reverend Canon David and Doris (Blundell) Lynne Davies. She will be dearly missed by her niece Gillian Lynne-Davies (Peter Sibenik), her nephews Tim Lynne-Davies, Jon Lynne-Davies (Kelly) and sister-in-law Lesley (Lynne-Davies) Thompson.

Patricia was predeceased by her parents and her brother Dr. Gerald Lynne-Davies.

Patricia began her career as a recognized authority in the area of human pulmonary physiology by graduating from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School and West London Hospital Medical School in London, England in 1960. After completing intern roles at Highland General Hospital and St. Mary Abbots Hospital, she emigrated to Canada in 1962 for an internal medicine residency at the University of Alberta. A research fellowship followed in the university's cardiopulmonary laboratory.

She became a Fellow of Canada's Royal College of Physicians in 1967 before completing her doctorate in human physiology at McGill University, Montreal, in 1969.

Subsequently, Patricia became the first woman to join the University of Alberta Medical School faculty professoriate. She was appointed as a clinical assistant professor and director of the University of Alberta Hospital's Inhalation Therapy department.

During this time, she also served as chair of the Canadian Medical Association's Committee for the Inspection of Training Programs in Respiratory Technology until 1974.

In 1974, she emigrated to the USA to accept a joint appointment as associate professor of medicine at Stanford University Medical School and the chief of the Respiratory Section at Palo Alto Veterans Administration (V.A.) Medical Center.

In 1979, Patricia moved to Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, after accepting another joint appointment as a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and as the chief of Pulmonary Medicine at Harper-Grace Hospital in Detroit.

In 1985, she became the associate chair of Research at the Allen Park VA Medical Center. Under her leadership, the department grew to achieve an over ninety percent funding success. The Allen Park V.A. Hospital merged with John D. Dingell VAMC, Detroit, and Patricia was appointed associate chief of staff, Research. She retained this position until 1995. Colleagues remember Patricia as a skilled researcher and educator, adept at overseeing complex research projects. She provided mentorship and support, which helped develop many faculty members' scholarly careers.

During her years in the USA, Patricia was a member of the American Thoracic Society, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Physiological Society and New York Academy of Sciences. She also served as the American Thoracic Society representative on the National Board of Trustees for Cardiopulmonary Credentialing.

Patricia spent the last few years of her career working at the Gertrude Levin Pain Center and then the Michigan Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital as a practising physician.

The Lynne-Davies family would like to thank the staff of Elmcroft of Southport, N.C. as well as the staff of Community Home Care & Hospice, for the care and kindness they provided Patricia, especially over the past months and during Patricia's final hours. Very sadly, we were not able to be with her due to COVID-19 restrictions.

A memorial service for the interment of her ashes will occur at the church founded by her father - St. Hilary's Church - in Killay, Swansea, Wales, when travel permits.

*** And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest ***

Donations to the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir (welshchoir.ca) would be appreciated as an expression of sympathy.