Dr. George L. Bakris, a pioneer in hypertension research, physician, leader, and journal editor, passed away peacefully at the age of 72 on June 15, 2024.

Dr. Bakris graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology/Psychology in 1974. He later earned a Master’s degree from the University of Chicago and pursued medical studies at the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, graduating with distinction in 1981. At the time of his passing, Dr. Bakris served as the Director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center at the University of Chicago, where he had been employed since 2006, following over a decade as Vice Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center.
Throughout his lifetime, Dr. Bakris authored over 800 peer-reviewed manuscripts and books on hypertension and kidney disease. He played a significant role in shaping hypertension guidelines in the United States and led clinical research on new antihypertensive drugs and therapies such as renal denervation. Internationally, he made substantial contributions to Japanese medicine, consistently supporting Japanese researchers who are expert in the field of hypertension and kidney disease. He served as an International Consulting Editor for Hypertension Research, making a profound impact on the Japanese Society of Hypertension.
The medical knowledge that Dr. Bakris brought will continue to benefit future generations. Japanese physicians, the Hypertension Research, and the Japanese Society of Hypertension express their deepest condolences on the passing of Dr. Bakris.
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Node, K., Nishiyama, A., Mogi, M. et al. In memoriam: a tribute to George L. Bakris, MD. Hypertens Res 47, 2235 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-024-01777-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-024-01777-6