Dr. Robert S. Mosser

April 29, 2016

Dr. Robert S. Mosser passed away Friday, April 29, 2016 after a short illness. He will be remembered for his medical career and his contributions to medical education. He was born in Topeka, Kansas and was proud of his Kansas roots all of his life. He was the third of four children, two older brothers and a younger sister.He went to school in Kansas and graduated from Wichita North High School. He graduated a year early and entered Kansas University as a sixteen year old freshman in 1943. He entered the United States Navy in November 1944 and served twenty months in the United States and the South Pacific. While he was in the Navy, he was first assigned to electronics school but after the end of the Second World War became a yeoman and served in that capacity until his discharge in 1946.He returned to Kansas University and completed his major in Chemistry and entered the Kansas Medical School in 1948, graduating in 1952. After interning at Ancker Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota, he worked as an Emergency Physician and went into General Practice in Independence, Missouri. After three years he returned for specialty training at the University of Kansas Medical School in Internal Medicine and later Fellowships in both Cardiology and Gastroenterology. He returned to Independence in 1959 and formed a group of four physicians who worked together until 1971. During that time they all were active clinical faculty at the University of Kansas Medical School.In 1969, he served half time as the Director of the Western Missouri Regional Medical program and became part of the team of physicians planning and constructing the new University of Missouri, Kansas City Medical School. He was particularly responsible for the Library and Computer Sciences. He was Professor of Medicine during this time and had major patient care responsibilities with post-graduate doctors and medical students. He became Associate Provost for Health Sciences for the Medical, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Dental Schools.He continued in this activity until moving to Bakersfield in 1975 as Chairman of Medicine, Kern Medical Center and Professor of Medicine/School of Medicine/UCLA, a title has held until the time of his death. He was particularly proud of the faculty he was able to recruit and the many physicians trained at KMC who entered the practice of medicine in Bakersfield. He was a fellow of the American College of Physicians and was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. In 1987, he was recruited by Kaiser Permanente to lead their expansion in Kern County. After the initial organization, he left administration and practiced Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine until retirement in May 2004.He was always active in sports. He played tennis for years at the Bakersfield Racquet Club, golf at Stockdale Country Club, and skied. He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife Wanda. They traveled extensively in Europe, Hawaii, and China for many years. He accepted many leadership positions including Rotary, Missouri Society of Medicine, and multiple others. He had a reputation for not "pulling his punches" and doing his best to carry out any task assigned. He liked to say that "he had never been associated with a failure."Dr. Mosser was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Nancy, and his brothers Donn and Russ. He is survived by his sister Mildred Neff. By his son Dr. David Mosser, wife Helen, grandchildren Ry, Neil, and Cassie. By his daughter Jayne Stevens, RN, husband Larry, grandchildren Kurt and Ashleigh and great grandchildren. By his son Dr. Kurt Mosser, wife Robyn, grandchildren Emma and Henry. By his second wife Wanda, her children Michele and Michael and their spouses and children.A short memorial service will be held Wednesday, June 1st at 9:45AM at National Cemetery in Arvin, CA. with a reception immediately following at Stockdale Country Club. Bow ties are encouraged.He did not like the 'waste of money' on flowers. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Department of Medicine, KMC, Education Fund.