Joseph Anthony Kithas

He was born on October 14, 1965, in East Liverpool, Ohio, to the late Adrian and Patricia Kithas.

After graduating from Beaver Local High School in Calcutta, Ohio, Joe joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a medic and earned the Expert Field Medical Badge. He was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where his experiences as a medic sparked his decision to become a physician.

He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He completed his residency in general psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Western Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After his fellowship, he became Director of Medical Student Education at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, where he was recognized with multiple teaching awards.

In 2005, Joe relocated to Las Vegas. He maintained a private practice, served patients at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center, and was the Director of the Behavioral Health Team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Student Wellness Center.

Joe was deeply committed to psychiatric care in Nevada and served in multiple leadership roles within the Nevada Psychiatric Association (NPA), including president, vice president, and secretary. He was deeply respected by both his patients and professional peers, and he found particular joy in teaching and mentoring psychiatric residents while he served as adjunct faculty at the UNLV School of Medicine.

Joe loved to travel—especially to Hawaii, coastal California, and Europe—and took great joy in sharing meals with family and friends. Boating was one of his greatest passions, and he treasured his time on the water, first on Lake Erie and later on Lake Mead. His joy and positivity could light up a room, and he had an uncanny ability to lift the spirits of those around him.

In June 2022, Joe was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He faced the disease with unwavering strength, humor, and grace—continuing to care for others, offer encouragement, and show up fully for the people he loved even as he navigated his own battle with extraordinary courage.

He is survived by his life partner, Phoebe Kuo; sons, Kyle A. Kithas and Matthew Kuo-Jackson; daughter, Michelle Kuo-Jackson; brother, Andrew J. Kithas and his wife, Betsy Russell; sisters, Kimberly K. Cowdery and her husband, Larry Cowdery, and Carol C. Kithas and her fiancé, Jim Grim; niece, Lauren E. Kithas; nephew, Tyler A. Kithas; and longtime friend, Patricia Moisan.

In accordance with his wishes, a private family service will be held on July 14, 2025, at Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery in Las Vegas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to support brain tumor research at UCLA: https://lailab.dgsom.ucla.edu/donation