Christopher Ward Barton, M.D.

Feb 22, 1954 - Jan 15, 2021

Dr. Christopher Ward Barton, 66, died unexpectedly at his home in San Clemente, CA on Friday, January 15, 2021. He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on February 22, 1954 to Harry and Barbara (Lamb) Barton. The family relocated to Downey, California and Chris graduated from Warren High School before attending Cerritos Junior College and then the University of California, Irvine. In 1980 he graduated from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco and then completed a residency in internal medicine. A talented and dedicated physician, he had a successful career in Emergency Medicine, first at Tuolumne General Hospital followed by faculty positions at UCSF and UNCChapel Hill where he was Director of Informatics and was involved in research on cardiac arrest. In 1999, he returned to UCSF as Medical Director in the Emergency Department at SFGH and eventually became Chief at SFGH and Division Chief in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UCSF. Chris retired in 2016, and relocated to southern California where he enjoyed the outdoors and actively pursued his lifelong passion of photography. He loved Yosemite and his images captured the beauty of this national treasure and his focus on figures demonstrated a keen eye for form and composition. In recent years, his medical research and passion for technology lead to an opportunity to consult and do research in machine learning to predict outcomes of medical emergencies. He was a devoted father and grandfather whose many lessons will live on in their hearts and minds.

From his first marriage he is survived by 2 children, Jennifer (Ryan) Cork and Aimee (Keith) Barcus, their mother Carol Freeland, and 5 grandchildren: Connor, Matthew, Eli, Finnegain and Murphy. From his second marriage he is survived by 2 children, Cole Edward Barton and Hannah Barbara Barton, and their mother Cynthia Barton. He was predeceased by his sister Meredith and survived by siblings Lorraine, Harry and Timothy and several nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation or the Yosemite Conservancy.