A former Dean of this Medical School, Alfred F. (Al) Michael, MD, passed away on September 25. The first line of his obituary reads, “beloved by all who knew him,” and I think that was very much true. He came to the University in the 1960s to work with Robert Good in immunology and eventually did tremendous research on the immunobiology and physiology of the kidney. His work, coupled with the transplantation program, made the University a leader in pediatric nephrology. He was head of the Department of Pediatrics from 1986 until he became dean from 1996-2002. He retired from the University as a Regent's Professor of Pediatrics in 2006. After his retirement, he continued to work to ensure that poverty did not stand in the way of children receiving medical care.
You can learn this and much more by reading his obituary, but for those of us who knew him, he will be remembered as an extraordinary person—a brilliant researcher, compassionate physician, soft-spoken leader, and someone who embodied service to others throughout his life and career. Thanks for reading and please keep submitting your stories!