- Facilitation of knowledge generation and translation in transplantation pathology with the ultimate aim to improve patient outcome
- Maintaining the Banff spirit of a multinational, multidisciplinary consensus group
- Fundraising
- Guidance and financial support for Working Group activities
- Guidance and financial support for Banff meetings activities
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our cherished friend and Banff liver colleague, Dr. Josh Levitsky, on Monday February 18, 2025. He was Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and was immensely successful as an astute clinician, fervent patient and trainee advocate, successful grant writer, outstanding educator and excellent translational scientist. Josh not only served those in his home institution, but he also served so many people and organizations outside Northwestern who will also miss him. Although the leadership roles Josh held over the years are too long for this post, he most recently was the AST Past President and a Deputy Editor for the American Journal of Transplantation. We have also been honored to have him actively participate in the liver Banff sessions, where he joined us yet again this fall in Paris. Josh was a thoughtful and respectful major contributor, provoking important discussions on the purpose and value of various modalities of liver allograft monitoring. All who knew Josh will deeply miss his savvy acumen, strong work ethic, dry wit and down to earth personality.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Rachel, and children, Mia and Ben. His death is a great loss to so many. The AST has created a website where people can share memories about Josh. We attach the link here in case any of you would like to post a memory.