With deep sadness we announce the death of Professor Malcolm Potts, our dear colleague, mentor, and the visionary founder of the Bixby Center for Population, Health and Sustainability. He passed away on April 25, 2025, at the age of 90. Malcolm's impact reverberates through the countless individuals he touched and the careers he so generously nurtured. We will forever cherish the kindness and unwavering dedication he bestowed, personally investing in public health professionals both locally and globally, creating a lasting legacy of transformative leadership and enduring change.
When Malcolm Potts joined Berkeley Public Health in 1992 as the inaugural Fred H. Bixby Endowed Chair in Population and Family Planning, it marked the beginning of a profound legacy. He went on to establish the Bixby Center for Population, Health, and Sustainability in 2009, a vibrant and enduring institution that embodies his passion for research and training in reproductive health and continues to inspire scholars and new research. He led the Bixby Center until 2015, when he transitioned its leadership to Professor Ndola Prata. Driven by a deep personal commitment, Malcolm's unwavering dedication to ensuring universal access to affordable contraception and safe abortion shaped the mission of the Bixby Center and remains a driving force of our work today.
Long before establishing the Bixby Center, Malcolm was already a visionary leader in public and reproductive health. Since the 1960s, his pioneering work with state governments, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and Family Health International, was instrumental in advocating for and expanding access to safe contraception and abortion. His bold and enduring vision is captured in his iconic quote: “pills should be in vending machines and cigarettes on prescription.” Reflecting on the missed opportunities to curb the rapid spread of AIDS in Africa, Malcolm believed we must apply those hard-learned lessons to proactively address reproductive health challenges and avoid similar setbacks. His pivotal role in advancing manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) for safe abortion wasn't just about a technique; it was about saving lives and empowering women, a reality reflected in its million-plus uses annually worldwide. In partnership with his wife, Dr. Martha Campbell, his work via Venture Strategies Innovations to expand access to misoprostol across Africa proved revolutionary. This effort dramatically reduced the devastating toll of maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage, underscoring his profound commitment to the most vulnerable. Similarly, his co-founding of the OASIS Initiative demonstrated his boundless vision, forging a global partnership to uplift the Sahel region through education, reproductive rights, and climate resilience. While most recently, he focused his efforts to make over-the-counter oral contraceptives a reality with Cadence OTC. His bold vision, articulated decades ago, remains strikingly relevant today. His impact is further evident in his extensive scholarly contributions, including over 300 scientific papers and 10 influential books, which have indelibly shaped the understanding of family planning, sexuality, and human development.
Malcolm's unwavering dedication to reproductive justice, maternal health, and gender equity fostered a vibrant community that will honor his legacy. His visionary spirit, passionate advocacy, and sharp wit will continue to actively inspire students, colleagues, and friends for generations, shaping their work and their lives in meaningful ways.