Rudi Ansbacher, MD

Class Year

1959

Affiliation

Alumni

Posted on: January 17, 2018

Dr. Rudi Ansbacher, died on Jan 3, 2018 in Ann Arbor.

He was born on October 11, 1934 in Sidney, New York, earned his B.A. degree from Virginia Military Institute in 1955, and M.D. degree from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1959. He was a rotating intern at the University of Virginia Hospital from 1959 to 1960. He entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1960 and took a year of general surgery residency from 1962 to 1963 at Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A three year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco was completed in 1966. He had a two-year fellowship in Reproductive Biology at the University of Michigan Medical Center from 1969 to 1971, earning a Master of Science Degree in 1970.

He retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel in 1980 after 20 years of service. His last assignment from 1977 to 1980 was Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Letterman Army Medical Center. In 1980 he became a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical Center, and served as Assistant Chairman of the department from 1981 to 1988, Acting Chairman from 1984 to 1985, and interim Chairman from 1991 to 1993. He was granted Emeritus status on January 1, 2002. He established the mentorship program for Ob/Gyn residents in 1981 and instituted the mentoring of junior faculty in the department in 1996. From October 1, 1989 through March 31, 1990 he spent a six month sabbatical with Health Policy International in Princeton, New Jersey.

His main research interests included those associated with female and male infertility, the immunology of reproduction, the menopause, and health policy issues (generic and therapeutic substitution and the delivery of health care). He authored or co-authored 108 scientific papers and 18 chapters, and served as a reviewer for nine scientific journals.

His avocations included gardening, tennis, softball, traveling and U of M sporting events activities.

He is survived by his beloved spouse of 52 years, Tissy, and his eldest son, Todd, who resides in Westland, Michigan with his wife Lara, and two surviving siblings, and several nieces and nephews on the East Coast. He is preceded in death by his youngest son Jeff, and his oldest sister.