In Memoriam … Robert James Lloyd Jr., MD, FACP, MACR (1943–2024)

A journey of excellence by a quintessential rheumatologist

Robert James Lloyd Jr., MD: 1943–2024

Robert James Lloyd Jr., MD, FACP, MACR, passed away peacefully on Feb. 4, 2024, at his home in Falls Church, Va. Bob, as he was known to loved ones, was born in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 1943. He grew up in Providence, R.I., where he attended La Salle Academy and Providence College. He returned to D.C. to attend medical school at Georgetown University in 1964, graduating in 1968, and was a member of the AOA honors society. He went on to complete his internship and residency in medicine at Georgetown as well.

He began his medical career with service at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va., for two years. Following his military service he returned to Georgetown and completed a two-year rheumatology fellowship, after which he launched a career in the private practice of rheumatology in D.C.

Throughout his career, Bob focused his professional energies on education and patient care. He continued to be active in the Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he was a clinical associate professor of medicine (rheumatology). He received many honors from Georgetown, including the Vicennial Award and the Clinical Faculty Award, Department of Medicine. He participated in activities of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, the Rheumatism Society of the District of Columbia, American Medical Association (AMA) and the Institute of Medicine. He was recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and received the Burgess Gordon Award presented by the AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Committee in 2004. He also received the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award.

In 2013, Bob retired from private practice.

Bob was tireless in contributing to the ACR, making sustained and important contributions, all performed with little expectation of widespread recognition. I take no small measure of pride when I reflect back on my early efforts to encourage Bob to participate in ACR activities. He represented the ACR extremely well on multiple levels over a number of years. He chaired the ACR’s Legislative Affairs Subcommittee from 1992 to 1995 and served on numerous other committees, including the Committee on Rheumatologic Care (CORC), the Finance Committee and the Government Affairs Committee. He was the ACR representative on the Subspecialty Advisory Group for Socioeconomic Affairs of the ACP and the ACR member of the AMA CPT Advisory Committee. His keen insight into the complexities of the activities and socioeconomic policy implications of each of these groups was instrumental in the ACR’s development of long-range strategic plans. The importance of his observations and recommendations to the practicing community can hardly be overstated.

As a result of his efforts he was awarded the ACR Paulding Phelps Award in 2002 and was recognized as an ACR Master in 2010. In 2013, he received the ACR Distinguished Service Award.

We truly have been fortunate to have had such a tireless, capable and insightful individual representing our interests on multiple fronts during challenging socioeconomic times.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ellen and Robert I, and first wife, Helena Gibbons Lloyd. He is survived by four children, Robert III (m. Peggy), David (m. Christina), Jennifer (m. Eric) and Kevin (m. Alexis). In addition, he was married to Mildred “Midge” Lloyd and is survived by her and three stepchildren, Delancey (m. Karima), Molly (m. Blane), and Megan (m. Tim), as well as 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Joseph D. Croft Jr., MD, FACP, MACR, is a clinical professor, Department of Medicine (Rheumatology) at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. He is also a past president of the ACR.