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IN TRIBUTE TO JOHN GOLDMAN

John Goldman died on Christmas Eve, 2013. ESH loses an esteemed colleague and a personal friend.

Dr John Goldman, a clinical haematologist and scientist internationally recognized for his work on the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), died on Tuesday, December 24, 2013, in London, after an illness of a few weeks.

John Goldman was a leading figure in the field of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML). Based at Hammersmith Hospital (London) he was involved in a variety of breakthroughs, including the advancement of stem cell transplantation for patients with CML, the clinical development of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of the disease, and the development of diagnostics.

Within the European School of Haematology (ESH), Dr Goldman played a prominent role. He actively contributed to ESH leadership since the school was founded in 1986. As a member of the ESH Executive Committee and of its International Scientific Committee, he contributed for over 20 years, to the School’s strategy, development and program planning with a remarkably open and stimulating mind for emerging exciting directions of recent research. His ideas have significantly contributed to shape the School, and his input has impacted greatly on its success.

The annual CML Meetings Dr Goldman initiated are now in their 16^th year and are organized jointly by the European School of Haematology and the International CML Foundation which he also founded. Thanks to Dr Goldman’s inspiring leadership, these meetings attract basic and clinical scientists with an active interest and a prominent role in CML science worldwide. They are an important annual rendez-vous where novel data from the forefront of CML research is presented. The ESH CML Meetings have grown to become major events for the clinical and scientific CML community, a true highlight of the annual congress calendar.

John was a leading figure in various other haematology organizations as well. He was among the selected group of founders and proponents of the concept of a European Haematology Association (EHA) and served as the 3^rd President of EHA.  He was one of the founders and past president of the World Marrow Donor Association, president of the Anthony Nolan Donor Registry and Research Institute as well as an active leader and past president within the European Organization for Marrow and Blood Transplantation (EBMT). He also founded and was Chief Editor of the journal Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The European School of Haematology has lost an esteemed colleague, a scientist of great stature and a unique personal friend. ESH is indebted to him for his paramount contributions to the development of the school. John was a teacher and educator, a chairman, and a mentor to a whole generation of haematologists. His quest for knowledge knew neither prejudice nor boundary. He was a scholar, a gentleman and a gentle man whose mind and conduct were always gracious, elegant, generous and truthful. ESH will strive to try carry on in his spirit.

We feel John’s death as a personal loss. ESH has lost a friend whom we loved, respected and admired.