Dr. Quentin “Chip” Deming, a founding Board Member of Physicians for Reproductive Health, internal medicine physician, teacher, and lifelong believer in the power of physician advocacy, passed away on January 21, 2019.
In memoriam of Dr. Deming’s contributions to our organization and to the medical community, President and CEO of Physicians, Jodi Magee, issued the following statement:
“It is with heavy hearts and incredible gratitude that Physicians for Reproductive Health honors the life of founding Board Member Dr. Quentin ‘Chip’ Deming. With 75 years of experience, Dr. Deming brought an unending passion for the physician voice in the public arena. He exemplified one of the unique aspects of Physicians for Reproductive Health – we are not just a community of abortion providers, but all of those in medicine who support access to abortion care.
With 75 years of experience, Dr. Deming brought an unending passion for the physician voice in the public arena.
“Dr. Deming worked with his close friend and our founder, Dr. Seymour (Cy) Romney, to start our organization because he believed that when medical experts speak out on issues related to comprehensive reproductive health care, public conversations can change and policies can be patient-centered. He participated not only as a strategist at our beginnings, but as a participant, joining multiple trips to Washington to meet with legislators, always wearing his signature look: a business suit with high top Converse sneakers.
“Dr. Deming served as my go-to resource for all things Board governance, an often arcane topic that put other Board Members to sleep. From a family of lawyers, he delighted in the organizational bylaw’s complex legal language and would guide me with patience, grace, and a gentle sense of humor. To this day, when someone asks me how I am, I remember that when Chip used to ask, I would say ‘I’m good’ and he would answer ‘I know you’re good, but are you well?’ I don’t make that mistake now. Our hearts are with Chip’s family today.”