Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD, ‘Father of Transplantation,’ Dies at 90

The following is offered at the request, and on behalf, of the Starzl family, as well as the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.
Contact: Gloria Kreps, UPMCMobile: 412-417-2582E-mail: KrepsGA@upmc.edu
Contact: Joe Miksch, University of PittsburghMobile: 412-997-0314E-mail: jmiksch@pitt.edu
PITTSBURGH, March 5, 2017 – Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, known as the “father of transplantation” for his role in pioneering and advancing organ transplantation from a risky, rare procedure to an accessible surgery for the neediest patients, died peacefully Saturday, March 4, 2017, at his home in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Starzl is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joy Starzl, of Pittsburgh, son Timothy (Bimla) of Boulder, Colo., and a grandchild Ravi Starzl (Natalie) of Pittsburgh. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Starzl, and a son, Thomas F. Starzl.
His family issued the following statement:
Thomas Starzl was many things to many people. He was a pioneer, a legend, a great human, and a great humanitarian. He was a force of nature that swept all those around him into his orbit, challenging those that surrounded him to strive to match his superhuman feats of focus, will, and compassion. His work in neuroscience, metabolism, transplantation, and immunology has brought life and hope to countless patients, and his teaching in these areas has spread that capacity for good to countless practitioners and researchers everywhere. With determination and irresistible resolve, Thomas Starzl advanced medicine through his intuition and uncanny insight into both the technical and human aspects of even the most challenging problems. Even more extraordinary was his ability to gift that capacity to those around him, allowing his students and colleagues to discover the right stuff within themselves. Nobody who spent time with Thomas Starzl could remain unaffected.
Thomas Starzl is a globally recognized pioneer in science and medicine, but beyond that mantle he was simply known and loved for ...

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