In memory of George E. Schreiner, MD
Authors: Christopher S. Wilcox
Journal: Kidney International (2012)

The death of George Schreiner on 12 April 2012 at age 89 marks the end of a life that strongly influenced the direction of nephrology in the second half of the last century. Remarkably, although his memory became clouded in the last few years of his life, he completed an autobiography, coauthored by Michael DeMarco, in 2009 entitled A Life of Learning: the George E. Schreiner Story (available at www.americanhistoricalpublishing.com). This provides marvelous insight into the man, his life, his family, his motivations, and his accomplishments. George Schreiner had great pride in having graduated from Canisius College, a Jesuit institution in Buffalo, New York. It is thanks to his generosity that a string of Canisius graduates have come to Georgetown University Medical School with the support of Schreiner Scholarships. After graduation cum laude from Georgetown University Medical School and an internship at Boston City Hospital, he received fellowship and research training under Homer Smith at New York University–Bellevue Medical Center. Homer Smith was to set the course of renal physiology for the next two decades. While in fellowship, George married Joanne Baker, a childhood sweetheart. They raised a family of eight children together. After serving his country in Korea, where he was deeply distressed by caring for so many young men dying of post-traumatic kidney failure, he returned to Georgetown, where he spent the rest of his professional career. His energy, wisdom, and scholarship ensured that Georgetown became a leading center for nephrology and hemodialysis. He explored the boundaries of dialysis and demonstrated its effectiveness in treating certain poisonings. He quickly rose to become chair of the International Society for Artificial Organs, which was the major venue for publication of new advances in this field. His deep knowledge of nephrology coupled with genuine compassion for his patients and his jovial and friendly personality led him to become the prominent clinical nephrologist of his time. With Proctor Harvey, the leader in cardiology; Saul Katz, the leader in pulmonology; and Charles Hoffnagel, the pioneer in surgical cardiac valve replacement, Georgetown became a true mecca for those seeking the best medical treatment or education. Perhaps George Schreiner's most enduring influence will be the 150 young nephrologists from around the world whom he trained during his lifetime. His ‘professor's rounds’ at Georgetown drew a large audience of nephrologists, clinicians, and students who came to see him bring to bear his skill and knowledge in solving difficult problems in the field of nephrology. Georgetown hosted a meeting in his honor in the spring of 2010, where he clearly enjoyed the memories that were conjured up by the many old friends and colleagues who came to pay their respect to him. His prominent role in Washington affairs placed him in a unique position to secure the availability of dialysis treatment for all in need in the United States. He rose to the challenge with characteristic enthusiasm. His direct approach could be a model for how to secure funding for a needed program. He is credited with demonstrating a patient on dialysis to a Senate Select Subcommittee. He spearheaded the formulation of the federal government's Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Program. Countless patients, and a generation of nephrologists, owe him a deep debt of gratitude for his foresight in establishing the financial basis for a national dialysis program. George's eminence as an academic nephrologist was underscored by his appointment as president of both the American Society of Nephrology and the International Society of Nephrology. His life spanned the time during which major advances emanated more from judicious clinical observation than from clinical trial. He was one of the first to recognize the importance of the renal biopsy. Many of his numerous studies related the outcome of patients with renal disease who were seen at Georgetown to his interpretation of their renal biopsy findings. George will be remembered as an insightful teacher, a clinical investigator, a pioneer of dialysis, an influential political force, and a leader in his profession. However, I suspect that he will be remembered most dearly by his many patients and students. I am fortunate to have had his influence to bear on my own career at two decisive stages. I spent a summer vacation from Oxford University Medical School working on renal tubules in his animal laboratory and evaluating new dialysis membranes at his clinical laboratory at Georgetown. This led to my first scientific paper and launched my career in nephrology, which was to come full circle, by a remarkable coincidence, with my appointment to a personal chair at Georgetown that was founded by George and his wife, Joanne. Like so many in our field, I am aware of how fortunate I have been to have benefited from George Schreiner's great fund of generosity and foresight.