The Region : UCLA Bone Marrow Surgeon Honored

UCLA bone marrow specialist Dr. Robert Gale, who led a team of doctors helping victims of the Soviet nuclear plant disaster, received the city’s first Humanitarian Award from Mayor Tom Bradley. Joining Gale in a ceremony in the mayor’s office was Armand Hammer, Occidental Petroleum Corp. chairman who used his influence with the Soviet Union to get Soviet officials to accept Gale’s help in performing marrow transplants. Fatal bone marrow destruction occurs when people are exposed to high levels of radiation. “. . . I am really accepting it on behalf of the international community of physicians who aided the victims of the disaster,” Gale said of the honor. “Although I was highly visible, physicians from more than 20 countries assisted in these efforts.”