Lawrence (Larry) Wayne Bassett MD, passed away suddenly on Tuesday December 15, 2020 at the age of 78 at his home in West Hollywood, CA. 

Larry was born on September 10, 1942 in Glendale to Augusta (Betty) Minor Bassett and Lawrence Clayton Bassett. Betty was a model and later in her life an administrative executive for a non-profit organization. Larry’s father was an aircraft engineer and pilot for the US Air Force, and after WW II, worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Sadly, they both left us before Larry. Larry is survived by cousins, friends, colleagues and his godson Ethan Farria. 

Larry Bassett graduated  from Burbank High School in 1960. He was accepted at the University of Southern California and graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1964. He then attended medical school at the University of California Irvine. After completing his internship at Northwestern in Chicago, Larry enlisted in the Navy and became a Battalion Surgeon for 1^st Battalion 5^th Marines stationed in An Hoa, Vietnam from 1969-1970. He returned stateside and served as chief medical officer for the Navy in Oakland, California.

After an honorable discharge from active Navy duty, Larry resumed his medical education, as a radiology resident at UCLA in 1971. 

Upon completion of his radiology residency, Larry joined the faculty at UCLA and started working with Dr. Richard Gold in the Musculoskeletal (MSK) section. He excelled in this discipline writing numerous articles and book chapters. Reading mammograms was also a part of his attending responsibilities.  He  became very interested in the challenges associated with mammographic imaging of the breast.

In the 1970’s, breast imaging was in its infancy and not yet a recognized subspecialty. Larry, throughout his academic life, played an immense role nationally in the development, evolution and recognition of Breast Imaging as a subspecialty in Radiology. His collaborations with the greatest in the field of physics, radiation oncology, oncology, surgery, pathology, epidemiology, as well as industry were remarkable and fruitful. These efforts were one of the driving forces in changing the world and how breast imaging was perceived.  Larry was a prolific writer and wrote countless articles and numerous books. Larry is considered one of the “Fathers of Breast Imaging.” He held the Iris Cantor Endowed Chair of Breast Imaging at UCLA from 1992 until his retirement in 2016.  Larry was internationally known for his role in the development of national guidelines to ensure high-quality mammography through the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) which mandates accreditation of breast imaging facilities and sets national quality standards for personnel, equipment, quality assurance, reporting and communication of mammogram results to patients. These efforts have saved the lives of countless generations of women by providing access to high-quality mammography.

As mammography utilization grew in the 1980’s, significant inconsistencies became apparent in mammography quality, radiation dose, radiologist interpretative skills, and result reporting. In recognition of his expertise, Larry was entrusted to co-chair, along with Dr. R. Edward Hendrick, two national and government committees in the early 90’s.  These committees were tasked with establishing essential criteria for the delivery of high-quality mammography. Larry testified before Congress in June 1992 on behalf of the American College of Radiology (ACR), providing background information on the criteria required to perform and interpret quality mammography. His efforts and others led Congress to ultimately approve the MQSA in early October 1992 which was subsequently signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on October 27, 1992.  Concurrently, Larry served as a founding member of the ACR Committee for Standardized Mammography Reporting which developed the renowned Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®). The first edition of BI-RADS® was released in 1993 and is now the international standard reporting system for breast imaging studies including mammography, breast ultrasound and MRI.

Larry served as Section Chief of Breast Imaging at UCLA for 40 years from 1976 to 2016 and was a humble, approachable, passionate advocate and educator of each of his team members, regardless of title.  Besides his influential work nationally, he served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the David Geffen School of Medicine for twenty-five years (1985-2010).  In the radiology department he served as Director of the Radiology Residency Program for ten years, Vice Chair of Education from 1986-1990 and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs from 2006-2016.  

Larry was the recipient of numerous awards including the ACR’s most prestigious award, the Gold Medal in 2011, and the Society of Breast Imaging’s Gold Medal in 1997. He received the coveted UCLA School of Medicine’s Sherman M. Mellinkoff Faculty Award in 2004 which is the school’s most prestigious honor and exemplifies “dedication to the art of medicine and the finest in doctor-patient relationships”. The American Board of Radiology (ABR) presented him with its Distinguished Service Award in 2000, “In Recognition of Devoted and Unselfish Service” followed by their “Lifetime Service Award” in 2010 with acknowledgement and appreciation of ongoing exceptional service in fulfilling the ABR mission. He has left an indelible mark on his subspecialty field and on UCLA.

Of all of his accomplishments, Larry was most proud of the Breast Imaging fellowship program he founded.  Established in 1987, the UCLA Breast Imaging Fellowship is recognized as one of the first in the country to offer expert training in breast imaging. During his tenure, Larry trained over 100 fellows who have continued his legacy of excellence in breast imaging across the US and other parts of the world and many have become recognized leaders in the field, following his footsteps. Although Larry did not have any biological children, he was richly blessed with many “fellow children” who made him proud and fondly consider him as their “father”. In June 2021 the UCLA Breast Imaging Fellowship program will have 121 alumni. 

Those of us who knew Larry will forever remember him not only for the giant he was in the field of Breast Imaging, his utmost dedication to patient care, education and the impact he had on his trainees, but also for the humble, kind, funny and generous person that he was. The holiday parties at his home where he personally and proudly prepared his version of chicken curry and sea bass serve as an example of who he was. There will never be another Larry Bassett. He will be greatly missed.