Remembering David E. R. Sutherland, MD, PhD
It is with a heavy heart that we must share with you the news that Professor Emeritus David E. R. Sutherland, MD, PhD, passed away the morning of March 23rd. Dr. Sutherland directed the pancreas transplant program at the University of Minnesota for decades - a program that has done more than 2400 pancreas transplants and nearly 1000 islet transplants. His long and illustrious career includes many firsts in the field of pancreas and islet transplantation, including:
- The world's first clinical islet transplants with his mentor, Dr. John Najarian, at the University of Minnesota in 1974
- The world's first total pancreatectomy & islet auto-transplant (TP-IAT) in 1977
- The world's first living-donor partial pancreas transplant in 1979
In 1980, he founded the International Pancreas Transplant Registry. Beyond this, he received the Medawar Prize in 2012, which is recognized as the world's highest dedicated award for the most outstanding contributions in the field of transplantation. He was also awarded the American Surgical Association Medallion for Scientific Achievement in 2016 - the highest honor bestowed by the American Surgical Association.
Dr. Sutherland's legacy is one of world-class innovation and compassion, and he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. In 2013, the Department of Surgery created a Professorship to honor this legacy. Dr. Raja Kandaswamy is the current Sutherland-Butterfield Professor in Immunology & Transplantation.
Thank you, David, for your outstanding impact on this institution and beyond.
Sayeed Ikramuddin, MD, MHA
Raja Kandaswamy, MD, MBA, FACS
