Dr. Pauline Yvonne Titus-Dillon

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Dr. Pauline Y. Titus-Dillon. She touched many lives with her kindness, wisdom, and love. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.  

She emigrated to the United States from Jamaica, West Indies, with her loving Aunt to pursue her education. Dr. Dillon attended Pratt Institute in New York from 1954 to 1957 then matriculated to Howard University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, summa cum laude in 1960. She then went on to pursue her medical education at Howard University School of Medicine where she graduated 1st in the class of 1964.

She did her internship and residency in medicine at Freedmen’s Hospital (now Howard University Hospital). Dr. Dillon was chief resident from 1967-1968. She received numerous awards as a medical student, intern, and resident for her outstanding performance at all these levels. Dr. Dillon was an Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellow at Georgetown University Hospital from 1968-1969. She was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1972.

She worked at Freedmen’s Hospital in the then Department of Family Practice and joined the hospital as an attending and was also appointed assistant professor in the Department of Medicine. In 1975, Dr. Dillon served a two-year postdoctoral fellowship, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland, for the National Institute of General Medical Science Minority Access Research Career Faculty Fellowship Program.

After her time at NIH, she was appointed as an associate professor and from 1977-1980 she also served as Chief Medical Officer for Howard University Hospital Medical Service at the District of Columbia General Hospital. She served on numerous committees during her time there and was then appointed a professor at the Howard University College of Medicine.

In 1980, Dr. Dillon was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Medicine and then in 2000, Senior Associate Dean, where she served until she retired. During her long tenure at the College of Medicine, Dr. Dillon served, coordinated, and chaired many committees for medical education among faculty and students at the College of Medicine and Howard Hospital. She was also interested in health promotion and education and served on many Howard University wide committees and had memberships in numerous national and local organizations and honor societies. 

She also provided community service activities through the Jamaica National Association. Dr. Dillon tutored and mentored children and young adults from elementary school through medical school.

Dr. Dillon was passionate about education and helping to make it accessible for others. She chaired a committee and organized fundraising efforts for the International Medical Students Assistance Program. The program raised $100,000 over a five-year period to establish an endowed fund to help students from Caribbean countries pursue their education in medicine. This endowment fund still exists today. Talented Caribbean students benefit from these funds because they may have financial challenges while in school. Therefore, we would like to help keep this passion alive for her and request donations be made to this endowment fund in lieu of flowers. 

Dr. Titus-Dillon had an illustrious career, and she also had a wonderful home life with her husband, the late Dr. Owen C. Dillon. He was an orthopedic surgeon who trained residents and instructed students at Howard University Hospital and other programs. He served as acting chief of Orthopedics and as chief of the Prosthetic Program at the Washington D.C.VA Medical Center. He also had a thriving private practice which he cherished until his final days.

She is survived by her children, Denyse Dillon, Paul Dillon, daughter-in-law Cynthia Dillon, four granddaughters, and three grandsons. Dr. Titus-Dillon is also survived by sisters Joy Harrison, Heather Hewling, Alicia Titus, sisters-in-law Barbara Dillon and Jean Harvey, and brothers Lester Harvey, Anthony Towsend and brother-in-law Paul Hewling. She has many other loved ones including nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and many cousins, all of whom will cherish wonderful memories of her.

To make a memorial gift in honor of Dr. Pauline Dillon to the Howard University International Medical Student Assistant Program (IMSAP).

    - Access the donation page online at College of Medicine | Howard Giving

    -After indicating the amount of your contribution, please click the designation dialog box, select Other, and enter “IMSAP”

    -You will be able to indicate your donation is being made in memory of Dr. Pauline Titus-Dillon at the end of the online form.

To make a memorial gift by check/mail:

    -Please make the check payable to Howard University. Please note your gift is designated to the International Medical Student Assistant Program by including "IMSAP in memory of Dr. Pauline Titus-Dillon" on the memo line of the check and/or in any accompanying correspondence.

    -Please mail your check to: Howard University, P.O. Box 22960, New York, NY 10087-2960.

The family and Howard University appreciate your donations.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Pauline Yvonne Titus-Dillon, please visit our floral store.