James M. Seltzer, MD, passed away suddenly at his home in Encinitas, CA on December 8, 2016.
James Mark Seltzer, the son of Charlotte and William Seltzer was born on April 27, 1951, in Chicago, IL. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1973, and earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1977. He completed his internship and residency at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles in 1980 and entered private practice in San Diego. Jim was a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and the American Academy of Pediatrics and he was a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Allergy & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He was affiliated with numerous hospitals in San Diego and Orange County including The University of California San Diego Medical Center, The University of California Irvine Medical Center, and Hoag Hospital and was deeply involved with the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU), Region 9, at the University of California, Irvine. In 1990, Jim founded Indoor Hygienic Technologies Corporation, a medical-legal consulting firm providing medical and environmental consulting to clients in industry, government and the private sector. He was a nationally recognized expert on the effects of toxic substances, particularly molds and mycotoxins, on human health and authored or co-authored numerous articles and publications on the subject. He also continued his private practice with offices in Orange County and the Fallon Clinic in Worcester, MA, where he was the Director of the Allergy and Asthma Department. He retired from private practice in 2013 and from consulting in November 2016.
Jim enjoyed swimming, hiking, and just hanging out at home with his wife Diane and dogs and had recently taken up boxing and yoga to stay in shape. With a quick wit and a smile for everyone, he was well liked and respected by everyone he met; especially his patients who saw him as gentle and truly caring for their well-being. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word and he will be greatly missed.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Diane, brother Steve, daughter Rachel Sonne (Andre), MD, son Robert and step-sons Matthew Mothander (Colleen), Eric Mothander, David Mothander and two grandchildren Alden and Cameron. Services will be held Monday, December 12, 2016 at 9:30am at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego with a reception at Congregation Beth Israel afterward. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.