Andres T. Blei, M.D. (October 19, 1949-October 1, 2008)
Authors: Roberto J. Groszmann
Journal: Hepatology (2008)

Andres (Andy) T. Blei, M.D., a dear friend and colleague, Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University for 28 years, a prominent scientist, mentor, and outstanding clinician-educator, died on October 1, 2008 after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Dr. Blei's wife, Estela, and their two children, Daniela and Alex, were at his bedside. Andy was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His parents were Hungarian and he grew up speaking perfect Spanish and Hungarian. He attended a private British school where he also learned to speak English like a native. His M.D. degree was from the "Universidad de Buenos Aires Medical School". He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Policlinico Alejandro Posadas in Ramos Mejia Pcia de Buenos Aires. Andy met his wife, Estela, at the Posada Hospital during turbulent times in Argentinean politics. During those years, Andy was already revealing special qualities as a dedicated and effective physician and as a person with deep interest in the world around him. At the Posadas he met two close scientific collaborators, Mario Chojkier and David Kravetz, who also immigrated in 1976 to the United States. Andy initiated his U.S. medical studies in New Haven, CT, where he became a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University. While working at the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital with Harold Conn and Roberto J. Groszmann, he developed his interest in the complications of cirrhosis. Initially he worked in experimental portal hypertension to develop new methods to evaluate the development of the hyperdynamic circulation, a common feature of this experimental model. However, it was in the area of portal systemic encephalopathy that Andy made his most important contributions to the hepatological literature. He moved into this complex field with dedication and perseverance, and soon became a world authority on the physiology and pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy. Andy's career led him to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 1980, where he rapidly became a leader in the field of liver disease. His pioneering research helped to establish, in Chicago, a premier Center for Liver Diseases. In 2001, Andy Blei was named editor of HEPATOLOGY, the official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. HEPATOLOGY flourished under his leadership. Geographic diversity was part of his vision, and this was reflected in the composition of the Editorial Board. He invited authors from throughout the world to contribute editorials and reviews, and he emphasized a global approach to hepatobiliary disease. As editor-in-chief, Andy was at his best as he strived to bring scientific discovery to the practicing hepatologist while maintaining the highest ethical standards in publication. He made extraordinary contributions to his field while helping to develop his beloved journal into the premier publication for the advancement of investigational and clinical hepatology. Even in the face of serious health problems, his dedication to HEPATOLOGY was unwavering. Andy was a man of the world, a physician-scientist of the highest caliber, leader, educator, editor, mentor, a critical thinker, and a humanist with a profound intellect and great interpersonal charisma. Above all, Andy will be remembered for his compassion and generosity. He was recognized and celebrated around the world as a premier physician-scientist and scholar. He lived life with passion and he earned the affection of his colleagues while inspiring excellence in the pursuit of scientific and clinical knowledge. Andy, your friends and colleagues will miss you very much. Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago IL. 1980–2008 Fig. The early years, 1974–1975: Resident in Internal Medicine, Policlinico Posadas Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.