Professor Ronald A. Asherson, M.D. (Hon), F.R.C.P., M.D., F.A.C.P., F.C.P., F.A.C.R., Dip. O&G (Hon) [1934–2008]

This issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis is dedicated to the memory of Professor Ronald A. Asherson, a true pioneer in the field of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Dr. Asherson died in May 2008 at the age of 73 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dr. Asherson pioneered much of the published work related to primary APS (PAPS), catastrophic APS (CAPS), and most recently microangiopathic APS (MAPS). He contributed toward three chapters in this issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis.

We would like to borrow some words written by a close colleague and friend of Ron Asherson, namely Ricard Cervera (from the Department of Autoimmune Diseases Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain), who described Ron as an avid collection of knowledge and someone with “clever clinical vision and quick paper writing” skills that reflected in his very productive life. Ricard has also chronicled some of this productive life in a eulogy he has prepared and that he shared with us.

Ron qualified in medicine in South Africa in 1957. He held various positions at several hospitals before joining the Hammersmith Hospital in the early 1980s, and it was here where his interest in systemic autoimmune diseases and antiphospholipid antibodies grew and his passion for APS developed. Ron has been very prolific, contributing to more than 500 scientific articles and to chapters of more than 100 textbooks. He was the editor of several textbooks and a fellow of several professional societies. He was an invited speaker to, and served on the organizing committee of, many conferences and was a visiting professor to many universities and hospitals.

Dr. Asherson continued to work until the very end, continuing to visit patients, write papers, and to plan new projects. In Dr. Cervera's own words, “His friends, fellows, and colleagues remain profoundly affected by this sudden loss but wish to pay tribute to his memory and the immense human and professional legacy that he leaves.”

As the guest editors of this issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, we also recognize Dr. Asherson's great contribution to the study of the disease we know as APS, and we therefore wish to pay special tribute to his memory and body of work.

Professor Ronald A. Asherson, this issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis is dedicated to you. Rest in peace.