Obituary
Journal of Parenteral and Enteral
Nutrition
Volume 44 Number 2
February 2020 159–171
© 2020 American Society for
Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1812
wileyonlinelibrary.com
Tributes to Our First President and Founding Father, Stanley
J. Dudrick, MD, FACS, FASPEN
Kelly A. Tappenden, PhD, RD
1
; Stanley J. Dudrick Jr;
Lingtak-Neander Chan, PharmD
2
; John M. Daly, MD
3
; Ezra Steiger, MD
4
;
Albert Barrocas, MD
5
; Charlene Compher, PhD, RD
6
;
Marion F. Winkler, PhD, RD
7
; Rubén Gustavo Kliger, MD
8
;
Jianchun Yu, MD, PhD
9
; Stanislaw Klek, MD, PhD
10
; Gil Hardy, PhD
11
;
Jose M. Pimiento, MD
12
; Joan Bishop
13
; Bettemarie Bond, OT;
and Emma M. Tillman, PharmD, PhD
14
Dr Stanley J. Dudrick, the frst president and founder of
the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
(ASPEN) died on January 18, 2020. Dr Dudrick’s ground-
breaking research in the effcacy of intravenous feeding is
recognized as one of the 3 most important advances in
modern surgery.
Dr Dudrick’s research, frst published in 1968, and his
continuing commitment to the development of parenteral
nutrition (PN), has transformed the care of acutely ill pa-
tients and saved the lives of millions of children and adults.
“With the passing of Dr Dudrick, medicine has lost one
of its most inspirational leaders,” said ASPEN President
Lingtak-Neander Chan, PharmD. “Dr Dudrick’s legacy
goes far beyond his pioneering research. While he contin-
ued as the seminal scientist in the development of PN,
throughout his life he also chaired the surgery depart-
ment at 4 institutions, authored textbooks and hundreds
of journal articles, and taught and mentored countless
physicians and other healthcare providers. Dr Dudrick will
be remembered as a healer and visionary, whose kindness
has deeply touched many people, and whose achievements
have changed the lives of many.”
“Dr Dudrick truly nourished other medical and health-
care professionals. He always found the time to meet
with physicians, scientists, clinicians, and students from
around the world to answer questions about his research
and nutrition. ASPEN’s archives are flled with letters of
appreciation—and wonder—at his generosity, knowledge,
and compassion,” said Marion Winkler, PhD, RD, Pres-
ident of the ASPEN Rhoads Research Foundation and
ASPEN’s 30th president.
A tireless proponent of the importance of the science
of nutrition, Dr Dudrick was one of the 35 healthcare
professionals who worked together in 1975 to create ASPEN
as an interdisciplinary association founded for the purpose
of providing optimal nutrition to all people.
“ASPEN’s interdisciplinary membership and approach
refect one of the principles that guided Dr Dudrick’s life
and marked his brilliant and life-changing career,” said
ASPEN’s 8th president, Ezra Steiger, MD. “He practiced
collaboration from the earliest days of his research when he
reached out to other physician specialists, basic scientists,
pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and medical suppliers.”
“ASPEN also continues Dr Dudrick’s commitment to
scientifc research and advancement through its educational
programs and journal publications that he championed,”
said Marion Winkler. “In addition, each year the Dudrick
Research Scholar Award is presented to a mid-career sci-
entist who is contributing to our understanding and the
advancement of nutritional support.”
ASPEN is far from alone in recognizing Dr Dudrick’s
contributions to medical research, education, and clinical
practice. Throughout his inspirational life, Dr Dudrick re-
ceived more than 100 national and international honors and
From the
1
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA;
2
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA;
3
Temple
University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA;
4
Cleveland
Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA;
5
Tulane School of Medicine, New
Orleans, Louisiana, USA;
6
University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania,
USA;
7
Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown
University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;
8
Austral University
Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
9
Peking Union Medical College
Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China;
10
Stanley Dudrick Memorial Hospital,
Skawina, Poland;
11
Ipanema Research Trust, Auckland, New
Zealand;
12
Mofftt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA;
13
Oley
Foundation, Delmar, New York, USA; and the
14
Indiana University
School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Corresponding Author
Kelly A. Tappenden, PhD, RD, 1919 W Taylor Street, Chicago,
Illinois 61821, USA.
Email: tappende@illinois.edu