Dr. James Haviland, the father of Northwest Kidney Centers (NKC), the world's first outpatient dialysis center, died Nov. 16, 2007 at age 96 of natural causes.

Throughout his life, Haviland was an active member of the medical field and the community. Joyce Jackson, president and CEO of NKC, remembers him wearing a red flannel shirt at every event he went to in his later years.

"He was there, he was cheering us on and he was there in his flannel shirt," she said. "He came the way he was, comfortable and ready to be part of the experience."

Haviland was born July 18, 1911 in Glens Falls, N.Y. He completed his medical school and residency training at Johns Hopkins University and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for four years. He then opened an internal medicine private practice in Seattle.

Haviland served as president of the King County Medical Society in the early 1960s, where he became involved in the development of the nonprofit dialysis center.

He was approached by Dr. Belding Scribner, who developed a shunt that made long-term survival while on dialysis possible, to help start a foundation where his technology could be used. Haviland was able to get support for this foundation and create a sustainable program for the Kidney Center.

When the NKC –— then the Seattle Artificial Kidney Center — got off the ground, Haviland stayed involved in the foundation.

"He was the first president of the board in 1962, and was still involved in 2007," Jackson said. "He always showed up to our events, our evening dinners and our board meetings."

Not only was Haviland instrumental in the development of the NKC, he was also involved in the establishment of the University of Washington Medical Center. He was a liaison between the University and the Washington State Medical Association. He served as assistant dean at varied times.

"He was always there for the UW School of Medicine," said Dr. Paul Ramsey, dean and chief executive officer of UW Medicine. "Even as he approached his mid-90s, he was still always there and always active, always interested, always looking for what the next good thing for medicine could be."

His accomplishments in life are many, both in the medical world and the community as a whole. He was involved in a number of boards and committees and sang with the choir at the Emmanuel Episcopal church.

"He was a person that valued community, collaboration and innovation," Jackson said. "He knew that medicine should not be a business but a service to the community."

Haviland is survived by his wife, brother, four children, four stepchildren, two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

There will be two memorials held in honor of Haviland. The first service at 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave. S.E., Mercer Island. The second, a "Celebration of Life," will take place Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at the UW Health Sciences Center Hogness Auditorium (4th floor), 1959 Pacific St. N.E.

[Reach reporter Celia Hunko at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]