Visit to UCLA Westwood Medical Plaza, Los Angeles: 27 April 2000

Visit to UCLA Westwood Medical Plaza, Los Angeles: 27.4.2000
With deep gratitude to Prof/Dr James D Collins MD (fondly known as ‘JD’) Rip*✝21.12.2018, amazing beautiful soul that played a pivotal role in my academic career*🙏💕
Fetched from my hotel by Dr JD Collins and headed southwest on N Grand Ave, onto 110 Freeway, I-10 W, I-405 N, Wilshire Blvd and Westwood Blvd to UCLA Westwood, 200 Medical Plaza, where he was Professor/Chief Radiologist and Clinical Anatomist at the Department of Radiological Sciences.
I have no words to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to Dr Collins, for hosting me in his unit reviewing with him hundreds of cases of MRI brachial plexopathy where he had conducted groundbreaking research on "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome" for over 40 years, showing me around the campus and arranging a meeting with Dr Berky Nelson PhD, Director of the Center for Student Programming at UCLA Westwood, even more so the awesome hospitality that he and his lovely wife, Aunty Edith Collins (Rip*✝7.12.2018) accorded me in their home in Los Angeles, a friendship that started in Lexington/Kentucky in 1998, and being warmly welcomed by their son Keith, daughters Jelena and Jenine, and their adorable granddaughters: Patrice, Angelena, Paris and Paige*🙏💕
Dr Collins obtained B.A. degree from UCLA in 1957 followed by M.A. degree in 1959, and attended Meharry Medical College, graduating M.D. in 1963. He made an astounding mark as the first African-American Radiology Resident at UCLA Medical Center in 1964 and in 1968 became the first African-American Professor of Radiology at UCLA and Board Certified in Radiology that same year*👌
During his career spanning 68 years, he gave 250 invited lectures and educational exhibits and was an author of 135 journal articles. He was a reviewer for multiple journals and served as the Radiology Editor for the Journal of the National Medical Association, and Radiology Rounds Section Editor for the Family Practice Recertification Journal. He was a frequent presenter for the American Association of Clinical Anatomy (AACA) and was recognized as the 2017 AACA Honored Member for his significant contributions and activities in the field of clinical anatomy*👌
He will always be remembered in clinical circles for pioneering advances in 3D MRI/MRA imaging, his commitment to education and mentoring, and a powerhouse for social justice. I am deeply humbled, proud and privileged to have benefited from his outstanding and selfless mentorship*🙏💓
JD & Edith now live forever in the House of the Lord - John 14:2
May they rest in eternal peace*🙏✝💕