It is with extreme sadness that we acknowledge the death of one of the giants of our profession, Charles Bernard Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter died on September 30 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. Bernie to many of his friends, was one of the founding members of AST and served as the 2nd President (1983-84). His accomplishments over three decades at the helm of the Laboratory of Immunogentics and Transplantation at the Brigham and Women's Hospital are legendary, including almost 400 publications and mentoring a Who's Who of transplantation. Bernie's passing reminds us of the rich legacy we have inherited in the field of transplantation and challenges us to face the future with the same creativity and commitment that he demonstrated throughout his career.

We encourage members to share memories via the President's Blog. We have already received this touching note from Dr. Terry Strom:

"Bernie Carpenter was a pioneering clinician scientist who joined the team at the Peter Brent Brigham Hospital that performed the 1st kidney transplants in the world. He organized a scientific laboratory in the early 1970's that trained a remarkable cadre of "early" transplant nephrologists that in turn established transplant science laboratories around the world. He was a talented, compassionate, and wise mentor who strongly supported his students with sage advice, respect and resources. Bernie was a self-effacing academic who took obvious pride in the work of his students during and even decades after their stay in his lab. Our loyalty to Bernie has extended to his extended scientific family, his fellows. Many of us seek each other out for advice and friendship and collaboration. Bernie's legacy is his devotion to a kinder and gentler means of training and developing the careers of his students. Bernie, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard, was a creative and productive scientist for over 30 years. His scientific interests included histocompatibility testing, immune system assays, the mechanism of action of immunosuppressive drugs, and tolerance.

He was proud to be a founding member of the ASTP/AST. His students have shared Bernie's zeal for the organization and many have served the organization in a variety of ways, more than a few as Presidents."

Terry Strom

Read more about Dr. Carpenter.