Fred L. Shapiro, MD 1934–2004

Abstract

FRED SHAPIRO died of an acute coronary event on April 13, 2004. He was 69 years old. He was Chief of Nephrology at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), Minneapolis, MN; founding president of Hennepin Faculty Associates (HFA), the academic practice plan at HCMC; a founder of Renal Systems (now Minntech); and the driving force in the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the Upper Midwest. Dr. Shapiro received his BA and MD degrees from the University of Minnesota and completed his internship and residency at Minneapolis General Hospital (later to become HCMC). He established the hospital's Division of Nephrology and was its Chief from 1966 to 1984. He was president of HFA from 1984 until his retirement in 1995. Dr. Shapiro probably was best known for his development of the Regional Kidney Disease Program at the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation. His work with state rehabilitation services in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan led to the decentralization of ESRD dialysis therapy throughout the Upper Midwest. Under his leadership, the concepts of automated medical records, outcome assessment, and risk factor analysis were developed long before the current evidence-based medicine initiatives. These efforts led to integrated care delivery systems reaching into rural communities throughout the Upper Midwest and gave rise to the first Cox regression risk factor analysis, presented with Dr. Christopher Blagg at the 1982 meeting of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO). Dr. Shapiro worked tirelessly through state medical societies to make dialysis and transplantation more available. He served as a consultant to the Social Security Administration to help implement Medicare entitlement for patients with ESRD in 1972. Under his guidance, the first book on the risks and hazards associated with hemodialysis equipment was published in June 1980. His professional affiliations included the ASAIO, the American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, and the Transplantation Society. Most active in the ASAIO, he served as its President in 1985–1986. He helped mentor numerous colleagues who advanced both the clinical and technical aspects of dialysis delivery. Despite his accomplishments, he always sought to place others in the limelight. A physician, teacher, researcher, administrator, and entrepreneur, Fred Shapiro was touched most deeply by the patients with whom he interacted. He brought hope and understanding to patients with a universally fatal disease. He supplied inspiration to colleagues and coworkers. And he helped launch a generation of nephrologists, researchers, and educators in the Upper Midwest and elsewhere. Nephrology has lost a leader and many of us have lost a mentor. We shall greatly miss Fred L. Shapiro, MD. Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota