Cover Kidney News
Volume/Issue:
Volume 16: Issue 10/11
Page:
34–36
Publication Date:
07 Oct 2024
Online Publication Date:
07 Oct 2024

George L. Bakris, MD

Barry M. Brenner, MD

William L. Henrich, MD, FASN

Nicolaos E. Madias, MD

Stephen C. Textor, MD

Charles Spurgeon Wingo, MD
Editorial Type:
In Memoriam

Investigators Who Revealed Key Aspects of Kidney Physiology, Drove Clinical Advances, Led Major Institutions

Volume/Issue:
Volume 16: Issue 10/11
Publication Date:
07 Oct 2024
Page:
34–36
Full access

Among professionals in the kidney community who have passed away in 2023 and 2024, the contributions of several leaders in nephrology are acknowledged here and will be honored at Kidney Week 2024. George L. Bakris, MD, a creative force with lasting contributions to hypertension care; Barry M. Brenner, MD, a visionary leader whose groundbreaking research changed modern understanding of kidney disease progression; William L. Henrich, MD, FASN, a compassionate clinician who improved dialysis training and kidney care; Nicolaos E. Madias, MD, a charismatic leader with vast expertise in acid-base physiology; Stephen C. Textor, MD, a generous mentor and pioneer in the field of hypertension; and Charles Spurgeon Wingo, MD, a renowned scientist whose pivotal discoveries influenced kidney care, have all been seminal figures in the field.

F1

George L. Bakris, MD

Citation: Kidney News 16, 10/11

As an “out-of-the-box” thinker, George L. Bakris, MD, made major contributions to kidney and hypertension care. Among the most recent was a landmark study in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrating that semaglutide reduces poor kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (1).

Bakris emigrated from Greece to the United States with his parents when he was 6 weeks old (2). He grew up in a Greek Orthodox family in South Bend, IN. He studied medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, IL, before completing his residency and an internal medicine and research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. He then completed a nephrology and clinical pharmacology fellowship at The University of Chicago.

He spent 3 years as the director of renal research at Tulane University's Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, LA, before joining the faculty at Rush University in Chicago in 1993. At Rush University, he served as vice chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and director of the Hypertension/Clinical Research Center. He later became the director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center at The University of Chicago, one of the American Heart Association's centers of excellence in hypertension care.

“His impact was enormous as it related to improving the lives of those individuals with difficult-to-control blood pressure and secondary hypertension,” said longtime colleague Arlene Chapman, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Section of Nephrology at The University of Chicago, in a statement (3). “During his tenure of training fellows in hypertension, he was able to provide the United States with the next generation of hypertension specialists. His legacy will be felt for a very long time.”

Throughout his career, Bakris authored hundreds of publications. They helped lead major clinical trials for blood pressure targets, renin-angiotensin system blockers, sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors, finerenone, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. He helped author many national and international guidelines on hypertension and kidney diseases. He was honored with several national and international awards and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Athens [National and Kapodistrian University of Athens] and Tessaloniki [Aristotle University of Thessaloniki] (4). Bakris was equally devoted to his family and effortlessly balanced the two. He also loved music, comedy, travel, global cuisine, wine, and cooking.

“He will live on through his great work,” said Michael Davidson, MD, clinical professor of medicine and director of The University of Chicago Medicine's Lipid (Cholesterol) Clinic, in a statement (3). “I will remember him most as a great friend and colleague who was always eager to help with his amazing mind.”

F2

Barry M. Brenner, MD

Citation: Kidney News 16, 10/11

At ASN's first national meeting in 1967, Barry M. Brenner, MD, and his colleagues at the National Institutes of Health's Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism made waves by debunking the existing paradigm for resorption by the renal proximal tubules (5). He and colleague Julia Troy would later start a laboratory at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, CA, that would use pioneering techniques to elucidate the mechanisms of glomerular filtration.

It was just the start of Brenner's illustrious and productive career, which included authoring more than 730 publications and editing or coediting 49 books, including The Kidney. Beyond detailing normal glomerular function, Brenner studied the consequences of renal nephron loss in kidney diseases and renal-protective medications and identified reduced renal endowment at birth and how it contributes to an increased vulnerability to kidney diseases later in life. According to colleagues and family members, his tireless work ethic, creativity, compassion, and mentorship leave a lasting legacy in the field.

“Barry was a giant in the field, known and respected nationally and internationally,” said Joseph V. Bonventre, MD, PhD, FASN, the Constantine L. Hampers, MD, Distinguished Chair in Renal Medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. “His contributions are enduring and his influence profound.”

In addition to his research in San Francisco, Brenner was the founding chief of nephrology at the hospital from 1969 until 1976. In 1976, he joined the faculty at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, where he served in many roles, including director of the Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Physiology, director and director emeritus of the Renal Division, director of the Physician-Scientist program, codirector of the joint postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program in Nephrology, and director emeritus of the Samuel A. Levine Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also served as an ASN councilor and as the organization's president from 1986 to 1987. Kidney Week recognizes his contributions through the Barry M. Brenner, MD, Endowed Lectureship.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, he was a loving husband, supportive father, and encouraging grandfather. Brenner was a devoted Boston Red Sox fan, and he shared his passion for sports cars, wine, and art as well as his profession with many in his orbit, including his son, Robert M. Brenner, MD, chief medical officer at Vera Therapeutics.

Robert said his father would have liked his career to serve as inspiration for the next generation of talented physician-scientists. “How do you make a real impact?” Robert asked. “It begins at the bench. Developing a detailed understanding of the principles that underlie our clinical observations and carrying that all the way forward with mechanistically sound interventions interrogated in well-designed trials, with the potential to ultimately evolve the practice of medicine. Then, generating the next set of important questions based on clinical experience, and going back to the bench with those questions in hand.”

F3

William L. Henrich, MD, FASN

Citation: Kidney News 16, 10/11

William L. Henrich, MD, FASN, was the founding editor of Henrich's Principles and Practice of Dialysis, a seminal textbook on dialysis that helped train generations of nephrologists, and was a transformative leader at The University of Texas Health Science Center (UT Health) at San Antonio.

Henrich, the president of UT Health at San Antonio, died from complications after a second round of stem cell transplantation to treat cancer, according to a statement from the institution (6). He earned a medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and completed his internship and internal medicine residency at the University of Oregon and his fellowship in nephrology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Heinrich took on increasingly greater leadership roles as he moved from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's Medical School, where he rose to the rank of professor, before becoming chair of medicine at the Medical College of Ohio (now The University of Toledo) and later chair of medicine at the University of Maryland.

“His ability to make everyone he interacted with feel truly seen and heard was remarkable,” said Donna L. Parker, MD, professor and senior associate dean for undergraduate medical education at the University of Maryland, in a statement (7). “His grace under pressure kept those around him calm and focused under the most challenging circumstances.”

In 2006, he was appointed dean of the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health at San Antonio. He served as president of UT Health at San Antonio from 2009 to 2024. Under Henrich's leadership, UT Health at San Antonio underwent a major expansion. He helped grow the institution's multispecialty practices, oversaw building $1 billion in new facilities, and doubled its sponsored research funding from $194.5 to $413 million. He also helped launch the university's newest school, the School of Public Health.

“His integrity, energy, intelligence, humor, and compassion made him one of the finest leaders I have known,” said UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken in a statement (6). “I learned from him constantly, and I’m grateful for his friendship over the years. The UT System and the state of Texas are so fortunate to have had Bill Henrich share his many talents and enrich our institutions and lives.”

He also left a lasting impact on the field of nephrology as the founding editor of his namesake's textbook on dialysis, published more than 300 articles, and was one of UpToDate's first writers. Henrich served as ASN president from 2006 to 2007. He was dedicated to his family, ran almost every day, and loved to share funny stories or lament the misadventures of his favorite teams: the Spurs, Cowboys, and Rangers (8).

F4

Nicolaos E. Madias, MD

Citation: Kidney News 16, 10/11

Nicolaos E. Madias, MD, a beloved and charismatic leader at Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA, for more than 3 decades made seminal contributions to the field's understanding of acid-base physiology.

Throughout his career, Madias contributed to over 250 publications, books, or reviews and mentored more than 75 fellows trained in the United States or Greece (9). Madias was born and raised in Greece and received his medical degree at the National and Kapodistrian Athens University School of Medicine in 1968 and completed his internship and residency at Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center (Waltham) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Massachusetts. He joined the Division of Nephrology at Tufts Medical Center in 1973 as a fellow, joined the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine as an assistant professor of medicine in 1976, and later became a professor in 1988. He served as chief of the Division of Nephrology at Tufts Medical Center between 1982 and 1999. He was an executive academic dean at Tufts University School of Medicine from 1999 to 2004 and served as the school's interim dean in 2003. In 2004, he became the chairman of the Department of Medicine at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, one of Tufts University's teaching hospitals, and served in that role until 2015. He also served as Tufts University School of Medicine's academic dean at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center from 2010–2014.

“A gifted, dedicated mentor, Dr. Nicolaos Madias served Tufts University and Tufts Medicine with great distinction and had a significant impact on Tufts University School of Medicine students, scholarship, and his profession,” said Helen Boucher, MD, dean and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and chief academic officer at Tufts Medicine. “He will be deeply missed by those who knew him, and his excellence in teaching, exemplary leadership, and contributions to the scientific and medical communities will not soon be forgotten.”

Madias’ research focused on acid-base and electrolyte physiology and the treatment of hypertensive disorders. He served as a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine's boards of internal medicine and nephrology and was an established investigator for the American Heart Association. ASN is offering a course on acid-base, fluid, and electrolyte balance disorders as part of the Kidney Week program to honor Madias (10).

“He was a brilliant clinician, scientist, speaker, [and] writer,” said Mark Sarnak, MD, MS, chief of nephrology at Tufts Medical Center. “But on top of all of that, he was a real gentleman, a very approachable person who cared for everyone in the division.”

Madias was also a devoted father and husband and enjoyed sharing humorous stories. He was committed to his Greek Orthodox faith. He was recognized for his contributions to Greek American culture with the Freedom Award from The Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England in 2022 (9). He maintained close ties with his colleagues from Greece and was awarded honorary doctorates from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the Universities of Patras and Ioannina. Madias also cofounded and served as an editor for the Nephrology Forum of Kidney International.

F5

Stephen C. Textor, MD

Citation: Kidney News 16, 10/11

Internationally recognized hypertension expert Stephen C. Textor, MD, used imaging techniques to reveal the role of hypoxia in ischemic nephropathy.

Textor received his MD from the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine in 1973 before completing his residency and nephrology fellowship at Boston University, MA, in 1978. He then served 2 years as an international fellow of the Swiss National Science Foundation Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. He later worked at the Cleveland Clinic; City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, CA; and the University of California, Irvine. The Mayo Clinic recruited Textor to join the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension in 1988. He remained at the Mayo Clinic until his retirement. During his tenure there, he served as a professor and was vice chair of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension for 4 years.

Throughout his career, Textor studied renal hypertension, kidney transplantation, and antihypertensive therapies while caring for patients (11). He became adept at advanced imaging techniques and used them to study renal artery stenosis and renovascular hypertension.

“[Textor] was committed to the care of [patients with hypertension] and left a legacy of innovative strategies that he pioneered to treat patients with renovascular disease,” said Lilach O. Lerman, MD, PhD, FASN, director of the Renovascular Disease Laboratory. Lerman explained that Textor developed a stem cell therapy for renal artery stenosis and led the first trial for the intervention. He also spearheaded a clinical trial of a mitochondria targeting therapy for ischemia-reperfusion injury.

At ASN, Textor served as section editor for the Nephrology Self-Assessment Program and a member of the Hypertension Advisory group. He was also active in the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension and the American Society of Hypertension. Textor held a pilot's license and enjoyed flying and adventurous outdoor pursuits, including white-water kayaking, canoeing, helicopter skiing, backpacking, and rock climbing.

F6

Charles Spurgeon Wingo, MD

Citation: Kidney News 16, 10/11

During his 42-year research career, Charles Spurgeon Wingo, MD, became a go-to source for fluid and electrolyte research for his colleagues and trainees at the University of Florida, Gainesville. “Charles was a true triple threat as a knowledgeable and compassionate clinician, the consummate biomedical scientist, and an outstanding teacher and mentor,” said David W. Ploth, MD, distinguished university professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, in an emailed statement.

Wingo joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 1981 after completing his internship and residency at The University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston and a fellowship at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In addition to his research, he provided clinical care at the University of Florida and Veterans Affairs hospitals in Gainesville. During his tenure, he mentored many trainees who have gone on to successful careers.

He made pivotal discoveries on potassium homeostasis in the kidney and detailed the role of H-K-ATPase proteins in the kidney. His laboratory also studied the role of circadian control of sodium channels in the kidney and how it affected blood pressure. Most recently, he documented new information about the role of aldosterone in regulating blood pressure (12). A session honoring Wingo at Kidney Week will focus on potassium stress and tubular injury (13).

Wingo was also a leader in the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, serving as a fellow, councilor, and president. The organization awarded him its highest honor, the Founder's Award. He was also devoted to his family and was an adventurous world traveler, eager to try new foods and experiences.

References

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