Robert Sadoff, a founder of modern forensic psychiatry and retired clinical professor at the University of Pennsylvania, died on April 17 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.

Dr. Sadoff grew up in Minnesota and entered the University of Minnesota at age 16. He graduated in 1955 with two bachelor’s degrees and earned a medical degree there in 1959. He completed a residency in psychiatry and earned a master of science in psychiatry at UCLA.

He joined Penn in 1972 as assistant professor of psychiatry and became full professor in 1978. He received the Earl D. Bond Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1979. He joined the 25 Year Club in 1997 (Almanac September 30, 1997). In 2008, he received the Special Dean’s Award, which honors unique contributions to medical education by Penn faculty members (Almanac April 22, 2008). He retired as clinical professor and director of the Center for Studies in Social-Legal Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine last year. The Perelman School of Medicine had recently named Kenneth J. Weiss as its inaugural Robert L. Sadoff Clinical Professor in Forensic Psychiatry.

Dr. Sadoff also maintained a private practice in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and examined a number of high-profile defendants.

Dr. Sadoff was one of the original eight members of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL), and was its first membership director. He served as its president from 1971-1973.

He won several national awards in forensic psychiatry, including the Isaac Ray Award in 2006. He was author, co-author or editor of 12 books, most recently The Evolution of Forensic Psychiatry: History, Current Developments, Future Directions.

Dr. Sadoff donated approximately 4,000 volumes to the Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. In 2004, the college dedicated a new library, the Robert L. Sadoff Library of Forensic Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, and named Dr. Sadoff chair of its advisory board.

He was president and board chair of the American Friends of Magen David Adom, which supports the Israeli Red Cross.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; son, David; daughters, Debra, Julie and Sherry Hanck; and 10 grandchildren.