Lawrence Mathers, a much-beloved teacher, pediatrician and musician who touched the lives of nearly every medical student to pass through Stanford’s medical school for 30 years, has died at age 62.

A large crowd was expected to honor the popular faculty member at the memorial services scheduled March 9 in the Arrillaga Alumni Center. Mathers was found dead at his home on Feb. 21. A cause of death was not determined at the time of publication.

"He was considered one of the best anatomy teachers in the country and a superb physician," said Harvey Cohen, professor of pediatrics and former chief of staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, where Mathers was the associate director of the intensive care unit.

Mathers, a professor of pediatrics and of surgery, carved out a dual career as a hands-on physician and an in-class anatomy teacher that made him particularly skilled at training future doctors, said Robert Chase, professor emeritus of surgery and Mathers’ friend and colleague for 40 years. Mathers was the chief of the medical school’s human anatomy division.

With sensitivity and humor “he answered the students’ ever-present question,

"Why do I need to know that?’” said Chase. “He won the teaching award whenever he was eligible for it. He won it at least 12 times."

“Larry has taught generations of students human anatomy with both dignity and distinction," said Medical School Dean Philip Pizzo. "He has been a friend and colleague of legions of faculty and staff, and has won the hearts of many through his compassion, wisdom, music, excellence and personal thoughtfulness."

"We don’t know how he’s ever going to be replaced," said Sepideh Saber, 25, a second-year medical student and teaching assistant for the current anatomy class. "We always associate anatomy with him. He knew every single student's name after one week of class. He always made sure we understood everything through little stories and jokes. He was so considerate, just an incredible teacher."

Among his trademarks: Mathers would begin each year’s anatomy course in the dissection lab with a moment of silence to honor the people who had donated their bodies to teach future doctors.

Mathers was instrumental in the development of the intensive care unit at Packard Children’s, said Lorey Frankel, chief of the intensive care unit at LPCH.

A native of San Francisco, Mathers spent most of his educational and professional career at Stanford. He graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1966 and completed his doctorate in anatomy there in 1971. He graduated from Stanford medical school in 1982 and did both his residency and fellowship at Stanford.

Mathers’ wife Mil died in the spring of 2002. He is survived by his stepchildren Doug, Mark and Beth Jones.

— Courtesy of Stanford Medical Center’s Office of Communications
Photo: Mike Goodkind