Born on July 11, 1939, in Lebanon, NH, William “Bill” G. Couser, MD, FASN, passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 85 (1). Deemed “one of the great academic nephrologists of the modern era” (2), Couser made significant contributions to the study of glomerular diseases. He was among the first to explore the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy and the role of the complement system in immune-mediated glomerular diseases. His work, including the discovery that immune complexes could form in situ in the glomerulus, has been foundational in the understanding of membranous nephropathy.
Couser earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College, going on to obtain a Bachelor of Medical Sciences from Dartmouth Medical School in 1963 and a Doctor of Medicine (cum laude) from Harvard Medical School in 1965. He completed his residency and nephrology training at top institutions, including the University of California, San Francisco, and The University of Chicago. From 1965 through 1967, Couser was a captain in the Medical Corps of the US Army, serving in Vietnam.
He was recruited to the University of Washington in 1982, where he was the Belding Scribner Professor of Medicine and led the Division of Nephrology for two decades. Under his leadership, the division became internationally recognized for research and training in glomerular diseases. Couser coauthored over 150 research publications and was instrumental in securing National Institutes of Health training grants and establishing a transplant fellowship program. Beyond his decades of seminal academic work, he was dedicated to training the next generation of nephrologists.
In addition to serving as president of ASN from 1995 to 1996, Couser served as editor-in-chief of JASN and was the president of the International Society of Nephrology from 2005 to 2007. Among numerous recognitions and awards, he received the John P. Peters Lifetime Achievement Award from ASN in 2018 for his contributions to nephrology.
Described by those who knew him as a “true role model for physician-scientists” (3), Couser leaves a remarkable legacy and lasting contributions to the field.
References
- 1.↑
Division of Nephrology, University of Washington Medicine. In Memoriam, Dr. William Couser 1939–2025. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://nephrology.uw.edu/about/in-memoriam-dr-william-couser
- 2.↑
Neilson EG, Johnson R. The accomplished life of William G. Couser, MD. J Am Soc Nephrol (published online March 7, 2025). https://journals.lww.com/jasn/citation/9900/the_accomplished_life_of_william_g__couser,_md.580.aspx
- 3.↑
Salant DJ, et al. Obituary for William Couser. Kidney Int (published online March 12, 2025). https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(25)00194-2/fulltext
