14 April 2025
In Memoriam of Prof. Dr. David Sutherland (Minneapolis, 1940–2025)
We must share with a heavy heart that Prof. Dr. Emeritus David E. R. Sutherland, M.D., Ph.D., has passed away.
Prof. Dr. Sutherland directed the pancreas transplant program at the University of Minnesota for decades. The program did more than 2400 pancreas transplants and nearly 1000 islet transplants.
His important career includes:
- The world’s first clinical islet transplants in 1974;
- The world’s first total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant in 1977;
- The world’s first living donor partial transplant in 1979.
In 1980, he founded the International Pancreas Transplant Registry. Beyond this, he received the Medawar Prize in 2012, which was given to him by the scientist who made the most important contributions to the field of transplantation. In addition, he received the Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology in 2016 and the American Surgical Association Medallion for Scientific Achievement in 2016.
He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, like myself. I had the opportunity to stay with him in his home for two years, and I was able to share with him for a comprehensive overview of the pancreas transplantation process, including the patient's initial contact, the initial meeting upon his arrival, and the subsequent surgery. His legacy is unforgettable.
Thank you, David, for all you had the opportunity to teach to numerous and worldwide physicians.
Maurizio Salvadori, M.D.
Editor-in-Chief of Transplantology
Centre of Transplantation University of Florence Italy
