Rodger L. Bick, M.D., Ph.D., FACP (1943–2008)

This issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis is dedicated to the memory of Rodger Bick, a true pioneer in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis. Rodger Bick died in September 2008, aged 66.[1]

Dr. Bick was a long-time friend of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis. He was a guest editor of several previous issues and contributed regularly to this journal. Indeed, we could identify 35 contributions to this journal that have included Rodger Bick as a co-author, which spanned a period of more than 30 years, from 1976 to 2008. Together with the founding editor of this journal, Eberhard Mammen, Rodger also conducted numerous courses and workshops at national and international levels that covered the state of the art in several diagnostic and therapeutic areas of thrombosis and hemostasis.

Rodger was probably most renowned for his expertise in the clinical and laboratory diagnosis and treatment of both disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)—two of the most difficult areas related to thrombosis within the field of hematology. However, his interest was broad, and he also contributed significantly to the understanding of thrombocytopenic syndromes, including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). In recognition of this background, we have included within the current issue an article on HIT that the authors have dedicated to his memory.

In total, Dr. Bick authored and/or co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, manuals, and Internet-based publications.[1] He wrote and/or was chief editor of 20 medical textbooks. He served as editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical & Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis and served on editorial boards of several other journals.

We would like to borrow some words from those close to Rodger,[1] who describe him as “a great clinician, tackling some of the most difficult areas in hematology with apparent ease and competence. He remained very dedicated to his mission until the very end of his life's course. He will be missed not only by his family, but also by so many of his professional colleagues with whom he worked, students whom he taught, as well as those patients with complicated hemostatic disorders who benefited from his great clinical skills.”

As the guest editors of this issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, we also recognize Dr. Bick's great contribution to our field, and we wish to pay special tribute to his body of work and therefore dedicate this issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis to his memory.

REFERENCE

• 1 Fareed J, Walenga J, Messmore H, Baker W, Bick M. In memoriam: Rodger L. Bick, MD, PhD, FACP—a wonderful friend, great clinician, and brilliant educator.  Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2009;  15 5-7