It is only now, 2 years later did I sadly learn of Irv's passing.  I was among the many who were so fortunate to have him as my Dr.  Such  a deeply compassionate guy who represented what everybody wanted in their Dr. , a real life version of T.V.'s beloved Marcus Welby.  He so deeply effected the lives of all of his patients.  The reason  each of us felt we had a unique relationship with him is because we really did.  A non-nonsense guy who made each of us feel special.  My then wife was a surgeon at KP Sunset when his new library dedication took place.  Thanks to her, I was allowed to attend that Drs. Only Event of that dedication ceremony because I so much wanted to share that event with him.  Many people leave this world, but very few get missed like Irv.  Truly a one-of-a-kind person in every best sense of the term.  Although so belatedly,  with no less love and gratitude to his family, Pete Bleyer

I was a surgery resident at Kaiser from 1986 - 1990. My dealings with Irv were always polite and cordial.  We would often join one another, walking together to work ( I lived about a half mile from the Hospital, at the corner of Los Feliz and Vermont. Irv had a slightly longer walk from the Los Feliz hills ).  I found him to be unusually kind and gracious. Irv even once complimented my on knowledge of medical history, after I had held court on the subject, one day at lunch. He also clearly had a well developed social consciousness. He will be missed.

Dr.  Ackerman was my doctor at Kaiser Sunset going back to around 1986.  I switched my health insurance to Kaiser Permanente after doing a graduate internship at Kaiser Panorama City for my Masters degree in Public Health  and  Dr. Ackerman had been recommended to me as a primary care physician.   I thought I hit the jackpot!  Dr. Ackerman was the most amazing caring physician.  

One of my favorite Dr. Ackerman/Kaiser stories I have repeated over the years is when I contracted pneumonia in 1999.   After spiking a 104 deg temp and developing a cough, I went to Urgent Care and was given a general antibiotic,  not realizing at the time that it was pneumonia.   After the third day when the antibiotics didn't seem to be working, I was seen by Dr. Ackerman  who diagnosed bacterial pneumonia and prescribed a stronger antibiotic used to treat pneumonia.  However, he wanted to hospitalize me to administer the antibiotics intravenously to work faster.  I was the single parent of a 9 yr old  at the time, and happened to be the same age as when my mother died (a little freaky),  so I refused to be admitted.  Dr. Ackerman told me that if I would not agree to be admitted to the hospital, then he would have to call me every morning and see how I was doing.  True to his word, he called me every morning and greeted me with "Hello Ms. Cooper, this is Dr. Ackerman.  How are you feeling today?"  

 When Dr. Ackerman told me he was retiring, I couldn't believe it.  He didn't seem retirement age to me.  And of course for very selfish reasons, I was so disappointed he would no longer be my primary care physician.   He said "I want to leave before someone taps me on the shoulder and tells me it's time to leave."  Something tells me that tap on the shoulder never would have come.   

I first met Dr Ackerman in 1984 when I was a UCLA medical student doing a rotation in Internal Medicine at Kaiser Los Angeles , and became more acquainted during  my Residency afterwards in Family Medicine. He immediately became one of my most important role models. His intelligence was obvious but his compassion for others is what really set him apart. I aspired to be just like him. I still have memories of how he interacted with his patients , sitting on the bed next to them and touching them in a caring way. Unfortunately , this was not a common thing to be seen as much more of a premium was placed on knowledge than compassion by most of the physicians I had observed . I am very thankful to him for showing me how a doctor ought to be.

To the Ackerman family,
 
I hold fond memories of Irv as a physician, mentor and colleague.
He had the highest respect from my resident class of '86, and we dubbed him "one of the Gods of medicine".    His clinical acumen was enhanced by his curiosity and intellectual honesty.   Long after retirement, residents sought him out as their Attending on the wards.

Being hired into the same module, I overheard his 7 am conversations with his patients, checking in on them or giving results.  Although he sometimes woke them up, I believe they enjoyed these calls as well as his handwritten letters.  Once Irv told me, the patient was so appreciative of the note, despite that he could not read the handwriting.

As technology evolved, Irv adopted the practice of daily listening to educational tapes on his way to work.  He could be seen walking briskly down Edgemont with ear pods.  His love for learning kept his knowledge at the forefront of medicine.

Irv was an outstanding mentor, who was an inspiration because of his respect for and dedication to his patients, and lifelong love of medicine.

Maureen Spell MD




Dr. Ackerman was my teacher, mentor, role model, and friend. I am tremendously grateful to him for showing me how to be the best physician I could be in all aspects of my practice. I came to the Los Angeles Medical Center in 1985 as an intern in the Internal Medicine residency. Dr. Ackerman taught us medicine but he also modeled what it meant to be a physician. He listened to patients and families with empathy and concern. He took time to carefully ask us questions about each patient to help dissect the history and clinical data to arrive at the correct diagnosis. He did all of this in a way that helped us to develop our own compassion and skills in caring for our patients. I remained on staff at the medical center after completing my training and continued to look to Dr. Ackerman as a role model for my practice. Later in my career when I was offered different leadership opportunities, I would often find a handwritten note in my mail a few days later from Dr. Ackerman containing congratulations and best wishes for the new opportunity that lay ahead. As the years went by, I tried to emulate his commitment to teaching, encouraging others, and trying to be the best physician I could be in my care of my patients. It was a blessing to know, to be taught by, and to have Dr. Ackerman as a role model and I will miss him. 

Irv was the Chief of Medicine who hired me as a general Internist in 1978,   I felt his gentle but firm guidance as I navigated  KP practice.  He recognized my restlessness and led me to enter the nascent field of Geriatrics.  He recommended me to become the founding Medical Director of the KP Hospice, Metro LA, in 1983 which became a very satisfying and fruitful career in hospice and palliative care for 35 years.   I am very grateful to Irv for his leadership, vision, and humanity.  He was a mensch!

In 1975 I joined Irv Ackerman's department of Internal Medicine at Kaiser Sunset as an intern.  He was my attending physician when I was an intern and resident.  I learned how to present patients' problems to him in the clear practical manner he preferred. He was supportive of his fellow doctors and kind and direct with patients.  Irv was my chief of service until I left Sunset in 1989, transferring to Kaiser Panorama City to help establish the emergency department.  Irv helped me move into that position: I had mentioned to him that I wanted to move into leadership, and he recommended me to a fellow SCPMG board member when the opening appeared. 
As chief of service Irv always listened to both sides of an issue, making notes in his small pocket notebook.  He later told me that writing the issue down made the person feel the matter was being attended to. 
I think that the sign of the highest regard bestowed on Irv was the adoption of the "Ackerman Principals" by the SCPMG board of directors.  These ethical principals are now adopted into the hiring contracts of all new physicians of the Medical Group.  It is as if he was a true descendant of Hippocrates - author of a set of principals guiding physicians into a code of ethical practice suited to the historical time and place.  
I want Mona and his family to know that Miriam and I have fond memories of Irv. 

I'm very sorry for the loss of Irving to the world. He was one of the kindest people I've ever known. His intelligence, generosity and humor benefitted so many people - including me. His name for me was Stephen-feffen-hoofen-bottom. Although I no longer go by that name, it will always be a part of me, thanks to Irving.

We were honored to have Mona and Irving attend our wedding. I'll never forget at the rehearsal dinner when Irving accidentally walked into the Ladies restroom and Wayne caught it on tape. We all laughed about that for a long time. 

I'm so sorry that Irving passed. It's a terrible loss to lose both Mona and Irving in such a short time. Irving was a loving, caring person along with being incredibly smart and successful. He will always be in our hearts. 

OBITUARY

Irving Paul Ackerman, MD

March 20, 1928 – July 24, 2020

Stricklin/Snively Mortuary

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