Guignard, Jean-Pierre

Spahr, André

Tabin, René

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Pediatr Nephrol (2006) 21: 1334DOI 10.1007/s00467-006-0191-6OBITUARYJean-Pierre Guignard . André Spahr . René TabinEmile Gautier (1923–2006)Published online: 19 July 2006# IPNA 2006Professor Emile Gautier started his medical training in1941 in Geneva. He was then introduced to basic researchas a postgraduate student at the Institute of Physiology inBern. Here he developed his approach to science, the rigorand the exactitude of which followed him throughout hisacademic career. In Zurich, under the guidance of GuidoFanconi, he became interested in the pathophysiology ofthe kidney. Under Conrad Gasser he investigated the renalinsufficiency presented by some children suffering fromacute hemolytic disease. They observed and described theevolution of the disease in five young patients sufferingfrom what became known as the hemolytic uremicsyndrome (HUS). These observations published in 1955are still referred to today (Gasser C, Gautier E et al.Hemolytic-uremic syndrome: bilateral necrosis of the renalcortex in acute acquired hemolytic anemia. Schweiz MedWochenschr 85:905–909).During the 27 years he spent at Lausanne University ashead of the Department of Pediatrics, he trained more than250 residents, 146 of whom became pediatricians. Dy-namic and inquisitive, he forged the outlook of his internsin their rigorous scientific and humanitarian approachtowards the sick child.Emile Gautier was a member of the Research Council ofthe Swiss Science Foundation and Vice-Rector of theUniversity of Lausanne. Internationally, he served as anexpert for WHO. He was an Honorary Fellow of the RoyalCollege of Paediatrics and Child Health and a foundingmember of two European Societies: the European Societyfor Pediatric Research (ESPR) and the European Societyfor Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN). As President of theESPR, Emile Gautier chaired the first joint meeting of theESPR-ESPN in Lausanne in 1974. Deeply concerned thatpediatrics might suffer from the subdivision and separationof the pediatric specialities, he always sought to maintaincontinuous communication between them.As a first-rate clinician, Emile Gautier’s approach toyoung patients demonstrated the essential need for detailedclinical observation combined with constantly updatedscientific knowledge in their treatment. Abroad, he wasrespected and appreciated by his peers for his scientificcuriosity, his enthusiasm, and his modesty.Emile Gautier died in Colombier-sur-Morges on 6March 2006 surrounded by his family, his wife Rosemary,and his six children. We send them our sympathy inmemory of a good friend, a great leader, and guide to many.J.-P. Guignard (*)Lausanne University Medical School,Lausanne, Switzerlande-mail: Jean-Pierre.Guignard@chuv.chA. Spahr . R. TabinHôpital de Sion,Sion, Switzerland

Emile Gautier (1923-2006)

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Emile Gautier (1923-2006)

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