Frank Talamantes, PhD, professor emeritus of endocrinology at UC Santa Cruz, died October 8 in El Paso, Texas, at the age of 75.
He received his BA in biology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, his MA in biology from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and his PhD in endocrinology from UC Berkeley in 1974.
As a leading endocrinologist, he joined the UCSC faculty in 1974 and served as vice provost and dean of graduate studies from 2000 to 2004. After retiring from UC Santa Cruz in 2004, he moved to his hometown of El Paso, where he joined the faculty of Texas Tech El Paso School of Medicine as a professor and assistant dean for research in 2005.
Frank received numerous awards and honors for his pioneering research on reproductive hormones and hormone receptors. In addition, he was also recognized for his leadership on issues of minority education.
Frank was an especially strong advocate for student development, particularly for students who came for underserved and underprivileged backgrounds. He tirelessly fought inequalities and injustices to inspire and motivate others.
Regarding the latter, he was a founding member of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and served as president of SACNAS from 1987 to 1990. The American Association for Higher Education honored him for “outstanding leadership and contributions to education in the Hispanic community,” and was named as one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business magazine. He also served on Minority Affairs Committees within The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), and the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR).
As an endocrinologist, Frank studied a family of hormones called placental lactogens and the growth hormone receptor, which play crucial roles during pregnancy, studying also the effects of those hormones on target organs such as the mammary glands and their role in breast cancer susceptibility. Over his career, he authored 171 papers and 13 book chapters.
In recognition of his research in the field of endocrinology, he received the Endocrine Society’s Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Service Award, the Transatlantic Medal Lecturer from the British Society of Endocrinology, the Berson Lectureship, which is the highest award given by the American Physiological Society, and an NIH Merit Award grant.
Frank was a consummate academician, whose contributions to endocrinology and minority issues will long be remembered.
In addition to these scientific accomplishments, Frank was an especially strong advocate for student development, particularly for students who came for underserved and underprivileged backgrounds. He tirelessly fought inequalities and injustices to inspire and motivate others. As such, Frank was a consummate academician, whose contributions to endocrinology and minority issues will long be remembered.
A travel scholarship has been established in his name by SACNAS. To donate, go to the SACNAS website, then to “Donate” and enter Frank Talamantes in the tribute message box. Donations will go directly towards travel costs for students attending the 2019 SACNAS in Hawaii.
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