Tibor Jack Greenwalt: Father of Transfusion Medicine

Tibor J. Greenwalt (1914-2005) was, as much as anyone, the Father of Transfusion Medicine. He was founder of the Blood Center of Wisconsin, the first member of the American Association of Blood Banks, founding editor of Transfusion, chair of the National Research Council's Committee on Blood and Transfusion, national medical director of the American Red Cross Blood Services, and president of the International Society of Blood Transfusion. He wrote 200 papers and 25 books, describing erythroblastosis fetalis as an immune hemolytic anemia, new blood groups and antigens, the effects of hepatitis testing on blood safety, better ways to store red cell, and much more. He worked until days before his death at age 91, ending a 63-year career with 5 papers in press.