Joseph Silva Jr.

Joseph Silva Jr., professor and dean emeritus of the UC Davis School of Medicine and chief executive officer of UC Davis Health (1997–2005), passed away on March 9, 2026.

Born Feb. 8, 1941, to Joseph Sr. and Mary Dutka of New Brunswick, N.J., Silva came from humble beginnings. He carried that humility as a core value throughout his life and career.

His journey to becoming a doctor began when he attended Rutgers University, where he met his wife of 50 years, Ruth Kajander. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical School, followed by residency at Johns Hopkins and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He served as an officer in the Air Force and then joined the faculty at the University of Michigan. He rose through the ranks and was recognized as a master educator and clinician.

With the encouragement and support of his friend and renowned UC Davis internal medicine faculty icon Faith Fitzgerald, in 1982 he successfully applied for and was appointed as chair of the UC Davis School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. He served with distinction for 14 years before being named the medical school dean and UC Davis Health CEO in 1997.

“I remember meeting Dr. Silva early in my career at UC Davis, when he was the chair of the Department of Internal Medicine,” said School of Medicine Dean Susan Murin. “He was a giant at our institution — a stabilizing and principled leader who strengthened and guided our school and health system through pivotal and challenging times.”

During his tenure as dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine, the school’s research funding more than doubled. Silva’s support for hiring new faculty, establishing new research laboratories and committing resources to the cancer center was instrumental in the UC Davis Cancer Center achieving a National Cancer Institute designation.

“Dr. Silva provided me an opportunity to grow my leadership skills as chief of hematology and oncology and then chair of medicine,” said Fred Meyers, distinguished professor emeritus of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. “He role modeled empathetic leadership combined with vision and a determination to make a difference for our community. I learned from his strategic leadership skills, always embedded in his values of clinical excellence and education.”

Under Silva’s leadership, UC Davis’ strengths in basic and clinical sciences were broadened by collaborations with the Shriners Children’s – Northern California and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He also oversaw the development of the UC Davis MIND Institute, the initial award to the Clinical and Translational Science Center, and continued designation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In 2015, he became the dean of California Northstate University College of Medicine.

A specialist in infectious and immunologic diseases, Silva published more than 150 works in scholarly journals, in addition to dozens of book chapters and editorials. He also held prominent leadership roles at the California Medical Association and the American College of Physicians and was a consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Ruth, and his second wife, Marilyn. He is survived by his daughter Karen, son Scott and everyone whose life he touched.

Demosthenes “Demo” Pappagianis

Demosthenes “Demo” Pappagianis, the founding chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the UC Davis School of Medicine, passed away in March 2026.

Pappagianis made exceptional leadership contributions in establishing diagnostics and research programs on Coccidioidomycosis (commonly known as Valley Fever) at UC Davis. Through his dedication and foresight, UC Davis became a leading center for the study and diagnosis of this disease.

Pappagianis received his M.D. from Stanford and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. He joined UC Davis in 1967, where he established the diagnostic and research program on Coccidioidomycosis. He served as medical director of the Coccidioidomycosis Serology Group Laboratory, which continues to provide the gold standard clinical diagnostic service for Coccidioides infections.

Throughout his career, Pappagianis provided exceptional leadership and vision in advancing Coccidioidomycosis diagnostics and clinical research. He was a remarkable colleague, mentor and teacher who positively influenced the lives and careers of many. Beyond his scientific leadership, Pappagianis will be remembered for his generosity, dedication and unwavering commitment to advancing this important field of work. He leaves behind a legacy of discovery, mentorship and service.

He was preceded in death by Alice, his wife of 63 years, his parents, George and Maria, his sister Penelope, brother, Constantine, sister-in-law Maria, son in law, John, Alice’s brothers and sisters and many dear friends and loved ones. He is survived by daughters Michele and Marika and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and extended family.

Excerpted from UC Davis School of Medicine memorial announcements.

Christoph Troppmann

Christoph Troppmann, longtime UC Davis Health transplant surgeon, researcher and educator, passed away in October 2025. He was 65.

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) and colleague Richard Perez wrote a remembrance in honor of Troppmann’s legacy and impact, noting he was an extraordinary transplant surgeon, beloved husband, devoted father, and gifted mentor who leaves behind a legacy of healing, teaching, and kindness to the many lives that he impacted, including patients, students, friends, colleagues, and family.

Raised in Belgium, Troppmann worked at universities in Europe until he was recruited to UC Davis in 2000, where he served on the faculty until his retirement. He was well respected by peers for outstanding care and twice earned the coveted “Friends of Nursing” award. He took on several leadership roles within the transplant program over the course of his career, and his direction and dedication were major factors in significant growth in both volume and stature.

Troppmann was committed to undergraduate and postgraduate education, founding and directing the transplant surgery fellowship at UC Davis. He contributed 30 book chapters to a variety of surgical textbooks, authored over 130 scientific papers, and gave numerous presentations at national and international meetings. He also served as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Surgical Research and as a member of the editorial boards for the journals Clinical Transplantation and Transplantation. He served on several ASTS committees and presented frequently at annual meetings.

Troppmann is survived by his wife, Kathrin Troppmann, M.D.; his son Maximilia; his daughter Sophia; his mother Helga; his brothers Philipp and Alex; and many nieces and nephews.

Excerpted from UC Davis Department of Surgery memorial announcements.