Association of Clinical Scientists

In Memory of F. William Sunderman, Jr., MD, (June 23, 1931 – April 1, 2011)

The 131st meeting of the Association of Clinical Scientists was held in memory of Bill Sunderman, Jr., who served the Association for 42 years as Secretary-Treasurer, as Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, and in numerous other capacities.

F. William Sunderman Jr. (Bill), who died on April 1, 2011 at the age of seventy-nine was, like his illustrious father of the same name, a physician and scientist, both of whom made many significant contributions to the field of laboratory medicine and especially the sub-specialty of nickel toxicology. Both father and son were devoted servants of the Association of Clinical Scientists as founders, scientific meeting organizers and editors of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science. Bill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 23, 1931. He graduated as valedictorian from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1948 and with a BS degree from Emory University in Atlanta in 1952. He underwent his medical training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia where he obtained the M.D degree in 1955. From 1955 to 1956 he was an intern at Thomas Jefferson University and from 1956-58 a fellow in metabolic research at the same location. It was at this time that Bill considered specializing in nephrology but the depressing nature of this field before hemodialysis treatment was developed discouraged him and he entered the same field as his father namely clinical pathology. His first foray was as the Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Service at the US Naval Medical School in Bethesda Maryland from 1958-60. At this time He was a lieutenant in the US Navy. It is evident that Bill’s primary interest was in clinical chemistry since his first publications beginning with “The clinical significance of measurements of protein-bound iodine (1954)” could all be classified as belonging to this discipline. Following a spell (1961-64) as Instuctor in Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Bill took on even more onerous service and academic responsibility by moving to the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida where he was Director of Clinical Laboratories and Associate Professor of Pathology. The Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida opened just six years before Bill’s arrival but already had an excellent tradition in clinical pathology since the first director of laboratories was Dr. John Bernard Henry, a distinguished pathologist who went on to make many significant contributions. Bill fitted well into the clinical laboratory and put together an excellent staff of faculty and technical experts. One change that he did make, however, was brought about when the processing of a seventy-two hour fecal fat specimen which required homogenization on a paint can shaker. The container’s lid came loose during the shaking process resulting in an environmental disaster throughout the clinical laboratory. Thereafter, Bill decreed that the processing should take place in a more remote and contained place. Bill exhibited considerable administrative skills in directing and developing the clinical laboratory services. He initiated the development of one of the first clinical laboratory computer systems complete with cumulative reporting and, for the first time, the application of delta checking of results. He also was interested in developing more sophisticated analytical techniques, something that was part of his legacy for the next four decades. However, it was the creation of a research program in concert with his service and teaching skills that shaped the start of his academic career in a leadership position. Bill was well funded by the American Cancer Society and his laboratory focused on nickel carcinogenesis. He was remarkably creative: he had, as aptly stated by his department chairman Dr. Joshua Edwards, “the ability to shed ideas like water off a duck’s back”. A steady stream of papers came out of his laboratory creating new avenues of research. Bill was also a gifted teacher and his lectures, especially those presented to the medical students were well-organized, well-prepared and well-received by his audience. Throughout his life Bill had little interest in sports but he did attend the University of Florida football games, probably because he lived just across the street from Florida Field, the home of the Fighting Gators. Bill’s wife, Carolyn, came to the University of Florida as a resident in pediatrics and they resided in a lovely comfortable home near the university and it was here that their first child was born. It was also at the University of Florida that Bill was starting to attract students to his laboratory, many from outside the United States. This continued in his later career and many distinguished medical scientists from countries around the world, including Poland, Yugoslavia, Japan and many others spent time in Bill’s laboratory and took their knowledge acquired there to establish their own research programs.

In 1968, after achieving the academic rank of full professor and having established himself as an internationally recognized leader in laboratory medicine, Bill decided to move on to the next step: that of department Chair. He received several offers, some from well-established programs, but eventually decided on a newly established medical school in Farmington, Connecticut as part of the University of Connecticut. His position would be as chairman of the department of laboratory medicine, one of the few departments at that time to be separate from the department of pathology. He also was given a joint appointment as professor of pharmacology. Bill’s rationale reasoned that in becoming head of a new department in a new medical school he could form and shape it according to his own vision; what developed would depend largely on his leadership. He went to Farmington inheriting no “baggage”. He also felt that a smaller hospital, as the Shands Teaching Hospital in Florida was during his tenure there, minimized his time spent on administrative duties providing more time for research and other academic activities. At the time of his arrival exchanging the colder climes of New England from the warmth of Florida, the new hospital and medical school in Farmington was just a large hole in the ground. His clinical and research laboratories were situated at the McCook Hospital in Hartford. Eventually the new facility was complete and Bill spent the next twenty-nine years directing a vibrant and productive program. He was now in his prime. His research developed along new lines of investigation, as is the case with all research programs, but the main focus was on the chemical toxicology and clinical chemistry of metals with nickel, of course, being the primary metal of interest. Bill maintained a high and consistent level of funding from The National Institutes of Health, The American Cancer Society, The United States Department of Energy, The Environmental Protection Agency and others throughout his career during which he published two hundred and fifty-eight articles in refereed journals, eighty-seven articles in monographs, manuals and texts, and eighteen books. As he told his junior faculty and students, “Publications are the best form of insurance for the academician”.

Almost all energetic, ambitious and successful scientists eventually become involved in national and international scientific organizations. For many years (1972-1988), Bill focused his considerable degree of energy on the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Clinical Chemistry Division. His efforts were mainly directed towards the Commission on Toxicology and its various subcommittees particularly the Nickel Subcommittee. The international nature of IUPAC provided Bill with the opportunity to travel and to apply his scientific and organizational skills worldwide. The Commission on Toxicology held their first international meeting in Monte Carlo in 1977 with, and under Bill’s leadership, it enjoyed considerable success. Many other meetings followed including several of the Nickel Subcommittee which was well supported by the nickel-producing industry. The well-known problem of nickel carcinogenesis in nickel-producing workers was of concern to the industry and Bill’s efforts added greatly to the understanding and prevention of this devastating problem in these workers. It was at the last IUPAC meeting that Bill helped to organize that his skills and knowledge were so evident. With his usual talent he planned the scientific program putting together a cohesive schedule that would not be instinctive to most people but which was second nature to Bill. The conference was in Vancouver, Canada and when the time came for him to present his own paper he was asked a question during the discussion period as to the pH of some reagent. He immediately gave the correct answer to two decimal places demonstrating his comprehensive knowledge of the experiments that had been carried out in his laboratory. Bill’s involvement in IUPAC inspired many young scientists and allowed him to interact with people who were working in fields different from his own. He was also involved in other international organizations including the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, International Commission on Occupational Health and others, but none occupied his energies as much as IUPAC. This International involvement allowed Bill to interact with scientists around the world, creating an aura of good fellowship that he cherished.

Bill gave a lifetime of service to the Association of Clinical Scientists which had been founded by his father. He served as president 1964-65 and in 1969 upon the death of Dr. Bob McFate, he took over as secretary-treasurer; Bill held this position until his own death. On top of these burdensome duties, in 1999 he added those of editor-in-chief of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science again holding this position until his death. He took over from his father, the first editor who decided to “take a breather” at the age of 101. Bill played a major role in the planning and organization of the Association meetings and always did an on-site visit in order to work with the local committee. He always put together the finishing touches making sure that the meeting rooms were wide and spacious rather than long and narrow, and that the meals and refreshments were appealing but not extravagant. The scientific program was his specialty and, as stated earlier, he had a knack of putting together cohesive sessions and would bracket a speaker “of limited ability” with a couple of excellent presentations. (He learned this trick from his Father of course.) Bill was always kind to speakers especially to young clinical scientists embarking on their careers. He would remark “Wonderful paper and great presentation – your best ever” to inspire confidence in those unsure of their abilities.

Bill always was a key performer in the Musicale, since the early 1970s a feature of the Association meetings. Many of us have fond memories of Bill, his father and a few other highly talented musicians who were Association Members, entertaining us with accomplished performances of chamber music. Bill was a gifted violist having decided early in life not to follow his Father in everything. Bill Senior was a violinist who had the distinction of owning several wonderful instruments including a Stradivarius known as the Irish Strad. Bill Junior eventually inherited this violin, which he sold and used the proceeds to buy a really excellent viola, something he enjoyed immensely. The Arts, especially chamber music, were most important to Bill, and provided a means of bonding with his professional and social friends and family. He will be intensely missed by a remarkable diversity of friends. Many of these friends bonded with Bill and his family through weekly evenings of chamber music. These sessions were typically followed by convivial and uplifting conversation.

Bill achieved many awards throughout his career, the major ones being as follows: The Ames Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (1978); Clinical Scientist of the Year (1976), Recipient of Gold Headed Cane (1998) and Diploma of Honor for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Science (2007) from the Association of Clinical Scientists; Achievement Award for Research on Nickel Toxicology (1992) and Chemistry and Human Health Division Award for Leadership Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology (2010) from IUPAC.

Bill retired from the Chair of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Connecticut in 1997 and he and his wife Carolyn moved to Whiting, Vermont. In his retirement he was a research professor of pathology at the University of Vermont, and a visiting scholar in chemistry and biochemistry at Middlebury College while continuing his extensive duties for the Association of Clinical Scientists.

From the 1970s onwards, Bill and Carolyn always had owned a series of Labrador Retrievers each of which he adored. The first one was acquired at an Association meeting in Washington and came from a noted breeder in Middleburg, Virginia; the contact being made by this writer.

Bill's beloved wife, Carolyn predeceased him in 2002. His brother, Joel Baily Sunderman, and sister, Louise Lehr Sunderman also predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Emily L. Sunderman and Michael J. Lee, of Cornwall; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth R. Sunderman and Robert C. Hauck of Salt Lake City, Utah; son and daughter-in-law, Frederick W. Sunderman III and Kathleen L. Sunderman of Freeland, Michigan; mother-inlaw, Frances L. Reynolds of Chestertown, Maryland; grandson, Carter S. Lee of Cornwall; granddaughters, Hailey L. and Caitlin E. Hauck of Salt Lake City; grandson, F. William Sunderman IV, and granddaughter, Chloe E. Sunderman of Freeland, Michigan.

Dr. F. William Sunderman Jr. was much loved by his family, friends, colleagues and many in the scientific community. He was kind, helpful and full of encouragement and had a broad range of interests and talents. We can hope but not expect to see his like again.

John Savory,
Charlottesville, Virginia

Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture

James L. Wittliff, Ph. D., M.D. hc, FACB: Deciphering the genomics and proteomics of human cancer to predict clinical behavior.

Professor Wittliff’s team is internationally regarded for studies of estrogens and their mimics with receptor proteins in human cancer, exploiting proteomics and genomics. His laboratory was among the first to report estrogen receptors in a breast cancer biopsy predicted a patient’s response to hormone therapy. This finding led to collaborations with the NSABP, establishing Tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer and use of receptors as biomarkers of patient prognosis and response. With NEN/DuPont, Dr. Wittliff developed the original FDA-approved kits for assessing estrogen and progestin receptors in biopsies, celebrated as a major contribution to laboratory medicine. His laboratory, designated the National Reference Facility for historical clinical trials in North America, served more than 400 laboratories worldwide. Focusing expertise on molecules exhibiting estrogen mimicry, Dr. Wittliff and IA, Inc. patented receptor-based biosensors detecting endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment. Awards include Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry from the AACC, Goldsmith Research Excellence Award from the American Cancer Society and the University of Louisville President's Award for Career Achievements. More than 200 students and research fellows from 45 countries have trained in his laboratory. Currently Dr. Wittliff directs the Institute for Molecular Diversity & Drug Design, which he co-founded.

Clinical Scientist of the Year Award

Presented to Roland Valdes, Jr., PhD by Magali Fontaine, MD, PhD

Dr. Valdes is Professor and Senior Vice-Chairman in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine. He is also Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, serves as Chief of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology and is the founder and director of a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Clinical Chemistry in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Valdes is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in advancing the profession of clinical chemistry through his major contributions in promoting clinical chemistry as a discipline via the scholarships of clinical service, research, and teaching. As a result of these activities, Dr. Valdes has played a major role in heading and participating in numerous national committees and in leading several of our key professional organizations. He has served as president of the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS), president of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), and is a past-president of the Commission for Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (ComACC). Dr. Valdes has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and as a director on the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC). Additionally, Dr. Valdes has been engaged in many other national work groups including federal government advisory committees. His scientific interests involve discovery and characterization of the mammalian cardenolides and their pathophysiologic role in cardiovascular disease and, more recently, in cancer therapeutics. For this scientific work, he has been awarded numerous grants from the NIH and other public and private organizations as well as several distinguished scientist awards from professional organizations such as the NACB, the CLAS, and the ACS. Dr. Valdes has authored more than 250 publications. In addition to his other research laboratories, Dr. Valdes is the principle founder and President of the Pharmacogenetics Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Louisville where he is currently working on transitioning the science of pharmacogenetics and proteomics into clinical laboratory practice.

Diploma of Honor

Presented to Charles D. Hawker, PhD, MBA by Robert L. Hunter, Jr., MD, PhD

Dr. Charles Hawker is Scientific Director for Automation and Special Projects at ARUP, where he has been for 19 years. Dr. Hawker is also Professor (Adjunct) of Pathology in the University of Utah, School of Medicine. Previously, over a twenty year period, he held various positions in research and development and management at Laboratory Procedures, Inc. (Upjohn) and SmithKline Beecham Clinical Labs. At ARUP he has installed several major automation and robotic systems that have made ARUP one of the country’s most automated laboratories. He is a past president of the Association of Clinical Scientists, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), and the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS). He has received the John V. Bergen Award of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), the Professor Alvin Dubin Award from the NACB, and the Becton Dickinson Award from the Association for Laboratory Automation.

He has chaired automation committees in both CLSI and Health Level 7 and recently chaired the CLSI Subcommittee on Specimen Labels: Content and Location, Fonts, and Label Orientation. He is a co-author or author of four book chapters on clinical laboratory automation and a frequent lecturer on laboratory automation to national and international audiences. He has three issued patents and has published 40 peer-reviewed papers, 13 book chapters or invited reviews, and 42 abstracts. His most recent research efforts have focused on the use of machine vision systems for automated quality inspection of clinical laboratory specimens, particularly the development of an automated camera system that uses optical character verification (OCV) to identify mislabeled specimens.

Young Clinical Scientist of the Year Award

Presented to Peter C. Hu, PhD by Armand B. Glassman, MD

Dr. Peter Hu is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Professions (SHP) and is Director for the Molecular Genetic Technology Program. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1990 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. He later received his Master’s degree from Lamar University majoring in Microbiology and subsequently a Doctor of Philosophy from Trident University International (TUI) Healthcare Administration and Molecular Genetics. Dr. Hu also holds 3 specialty clinical certifications in Molecular Biology, Cytogenetics, and Clinical Laboratory Science. He joined MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in1995 and has worked in both clinical and academic environments.

Dr. Hu was a founding faculty member in the SHP and played an important role in MDACC achieving degree granting status by the Texas Coordinating Board in 2002, the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation in 2005, the addition of the junior year curriculum approval in 2008, and SACS reaffirmation in 2010. He was also instrumental in the approval of the Molecular Genetic Technology program by the Texas Coordinating Board in 2005 and the program’s professional accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) in 2005 and its reaffirmation in 2010.

Dr. Hu has taught over 28 courses within the SHP and has served or is currently serving as Chair or as member on 38 institutional committees. Dr. Hu has published over 100 abstracts, 17 papers, and 1 book chapter. He is on the editorial board for 3 journals and a column editor for another. He has received 41 recognitions and awards including the recent Young Clinical Scientist award from the Association of Clinical Scientists for his presentation on using saliva cells to detect microsatellite instability in hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer patients and their at-risk family members . Professionally, he has served as the President for Texas Association for Clinical Laboratory Science, Education Director and Chair of the Genetics Educators Committee for the Association for Genetic Technologist, Chair of the Molecular Scientific Assembly, Continuing Education Approval Committee, and Awards Subcommittee Chair for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, a member of the Review Committee for Accredited Programs under NAACLS, and has served as a clinical laboratory science programs inspector for 10 year. Dr. Hu regularly presents at state, national, and international levels on topics dealing with genetics research, clinical laboratory sciences, and education.