39-year faculty member Buchanan named Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics
By Remekca Owens
Dr. George R. Buchanan, a renowned pediatric hematology physician-researcher and former Professor of Pediatrics and of Internal Medicine, has been named Professor Emeritus.
He joined the faculty of UT Southwestern Medical Center in 1977, after accepting an exceptional opportunity to develop a world-class program in Dallas for children with sickle cell disease. At that time, the average lifespan of people in American with the disease was only 14 years. In 1983, Dr. Buchanan played a key role in Texas becoming the third state to test infants for sickle cell disease at birth, leading to earlier interventions that avoid crises, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications. The life expectancy of someone with sickle cell disease currently is about 40 to 60 years, according to the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI).
“What has given me great joy over the 39 years I’ve been at UT Southwestern has been the opportunity to care for and study children with a wide spectrum of hematologic conditions ranging from leukemia to iron deficiency anemia,” said Dr. Buchanan, who prior to his retirement served as Director of the UT Southwestern’s Barrett Family Center of Pediatric Oncology. “We have made tremendous progress due to the close partnership between UT Southwestern and Children’s Medical Center Dallas and the outstanding professionals who devote so much of their time and energy to these young patients and their families.”
Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder caused by a genetic mutation that affects the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. A single copy of the sickle cell trait protects individuals against malaria, while inheriting two copies leads to sickle cell disease. An estimated 100,000 people in the United States are living with the disease, which most commonly affects African-Americans, Hispanics, and people of Caribbean ancestry. One in every 12 African-Americans has the sickle cell trait.
Dr. Buchanan, who held the Children’s Cancer Fund Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at UT Southwestern, received his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1970, followed by pediatric residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and hematology-oncology fellowship at Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School.
During his UT Southwestern tenure, he became a national leader in local and multicenter collaborative research in various areas of hematology, including sickle cell disease, other anemias, bleeding disorders, and childhood cancer. In 2014, the NHLBI released the first comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for management of sickle cell disease from birth to end of life, based on recommendations developed by a nationwide team of experts co-chaired by Dr. Buchanan. The new management guidelines consist of more than 500 specific recommendations for physicians who are caring for patients with sickle cell disease.
“Dr. Buchanan’s retirement marks the end of an era in the field of childhood blood disorders, where he has left a remarkable record of important contributions,” said Dr. Julio Perez-Fontan, Chairman of Pediatrics. “His investigative interests have touched on all the important problems in pediatric hematology, and he has been a leader in the development of management strategies for sickle cell disease, a devastating illness that, despite the advances made in our understanding of its biological underpinnings, still usually has no cure. His appointment as an Emeritus Professor recognizes these contributions and justifies our continued access to his talents as a clinician, educator, and researcher for years to come.”
In addition to these research efforts, Dr. Buchanan has also dedicated himself to training and mentoring young physician-researchers. “I’ve taken great pride in teaching and mentoring health care professionals at all levels to deliver excellent patient care while simultaneously conducting research to advance our knowledge about blood disorders and how best to treat and ideally prevent them,” he said.
In demonstration of his leadership and expertise, Dr. Buchanan has served as President of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and twice on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Hematology. His other notable accolades include the 2007 Distinguished Career Award from the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, the 2008 Mentoring Award in Clinical Research from the American Society of Hematology, the Arnold Gold Foundation Award for Humanism in Medicine from the American Association of Medical Colleges, and the annual George R. Buchanan Lectureship established by the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
The sickle cell disease program Dr. Buchanan founded at Children’s has become one of the most distinguished in the world, focusing on clinical care and patient-oriented research. Its team of faculty, fellows, and administrative, clinical, and research support staff has cared for more than 600 patients in the past two years in addition to conducting research that over the years has led to numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health and research published in more than 80 publications.
Dr. Perez-Fontan holds the Robert L. Moore Chair in Pediatrics.
