It is with profound sadness that we write to inform you of the passing of Jay M. McDonald, M.D., Professor Emeritus and former chair of the Department of Pathology, on June 5, 2019.

Jay was a long-time member of the ASIP and was engaged on many fronts. Among other things, Jay is a past Editor-in-Chief for the American Journal of Pathology and served on the Council for a number of years as well during a time that saw big changes to the Society. 

 

Jay left a legacy of integrity and vision in the Department of Pathology where he served as chair for nearly 20 years, and across the institution. The effects of Jay’s role supporting excellence in research and teaching continue to be felt. His passing is a true loss for the Department, for the University, and for the field of pathology. 

 

Jay’s academic career spanned three decades and included Directorship of the Division of Laboratory Medicine in the Departments of Pathology and Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for 10 years. He came to UAB in 1990 as Chair of the Department of Pathology, a role in which he served from 1990–2008. During that tenure, he drove the department to become nationally recognized in both diagnostic pathology and laboratory medicine as well as experimental molecular and cellular pathology. Jay recruited physicians and scientists who took the department to a position in the top 10 Pathology Departments in NIH funding while serving patients with state-of-the-art clinical laboratories and educating and training hundreds of students and colleagues. Many of these students and colleagues today hold leadership positions in academia, government service, industry and community practice--yet another example of his enduring impact.   

 

Jay was Editor-in-Chief of the primary pathology research journal, The American Journal of Pathology, from 2003–2008. He directed an NIH-funded Center for Metabolic Bone Disease—one of five in the country—from 1996-2010. 

 

Jay and his wife Sarah continued to support the department’s mission generously, having established the Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professorship in Bone Pathobiology and the Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professorship in Laboratory Medicine.

 

He took his role as Professor Emeritus to heart, visiting regularly with faculty and staff in the Department and across campus with whom he forged lasting relationships in his tenure at UAB.

 

We personally have benefited from Jay’s collaborative spirit and scientific partnership. He will be greatly missed. We know many of you knew and respected Jay and that you join us in sending our most sincere condolences to his family. No funeral is expected to be held at this time.

Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS

Senior Vice President for Medicine

Dean, School of Medicine

George J. Netto, M.D.

Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair of Pathology