Dr. Joseph Flood (1952-2023) - Past ACR President Save

Dr Joseph Flood, a past president of the American College of Rheumatology, passed away on July 13, 2023 at age 70 due to complications of liver disease, diabetes and liver cancer.

He was born in Cleveland, schooled at St Ignatius High School in Cleveland and graduated college Baldwin-Wallace University, in Berea, OH.

Dr Flood went to Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, graduating in 1979 and going on to serve as a Fellow in Rheumatic Diseases at Georgetown and the Washington VA Medical Center. In 1984, he and his wife Jeanne relocated to German Village in Columbus Ohio where he practiced medicine and was an active member in the community.

Joe was board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. He practiced Rheumatology in central Ohio for many years. Dr. Flood was a life long educator and leade as Clinical Professor of Medicine at The Ohio State University. Among his many accomplishments and achievements:

• He served on the College of Medicine Committee on Admissions for over 30 years.
• He was honored with the Distinguished Educator Award and inducted into the Courage to Teach Society there.
• He created and served for many years as the leader of Grant Hospital's Rheumatology Clinic and the Columbus Medical Association's Free Clinic.
• Listed for many decades as one of the Best Doctors in America.
• He was a Master of the American College of Rheumatology (MACR) and Fellow, American College of Physicians
• American College of Rheumatology (ACR) - Dr. Flood chaired many committees and helpted establish the ACRs Political Action Committee
• President of the ACR in 2015

Joe was Ohio's favorite son, proud of Ohio, his patients and family.  He was big, tall man with a formidable presence dominated by his warmth, kindness and humor.  He was a truly genuine friend to many, me included. Time spent with him always always resulted in him making others feel better, included and appreciated.  Dr. Floods career and impact are evidence that ACR presidents and rheumatology leadership should come from community, real-world rheumatologists - even better when they have academic priorities and patient devotion, as Dr. Flood so clearly did. 

More tributes to Dr. Flood appear in a tribute article published by Healio here.

With his passing, Joe was surrounded by his wife, Jeanne M. Likins, PhD, and loving family members.

In lieu of flowers, we request that memorial donations be directed in memory of Joseph Flood '70 to: St. Ignatius High School (Dennis Stonequist), 1911 W. 30 th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 or Ignatius.edu/give or to the Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2200 Lake Blvd. NE, Atlanta,GA 30319 or online at ttps://www.rheumresearch.org/donate and select "this gift is a tribute" to designate the donation in Dr. Joseph Flood's honor. The family will match donations up to $10,000.00 total.