The Bioiron community in Israel and the world mourns the sudden death of Professor Eliezer Rachmilewitz, who passed away in the early hours of December 17, 2017. Eliezer was the son of one of the legendary scholars and physicians who set the foundation of Hadassah Medical Center as both academic and clinical institution of worldwide reputation and he continued that tradition of excellence throughout his life. Eliezer was one of the pioneers of Thalassemia research, and one of the first to recognize the relationship between oxidative stress and iron overload in a variety of hematological disorders. He had a passion for medical research and until the last moments of his life he shared it with colleagues and students, always showing an incredible learning ability and enthusiasm for new developments in basic and clinical aspects. Eliezer had an outgoing personality with a flair for approaching and attracting people and offering his professional assistance to those in need. He was endowed with a special skill for liaising between investigators specializing in different areas of Biomedicine and as such he generated fruitful collaborations with numerous people worldwide and particularly with those in the Middle East, including Israel, the Palestinian territories and Arab countries.
The Bioiron community had the privilege to honor Eliezer Rachmilewitz (together with Chaim Hershko) for their pivotal contributions to the field of Iron in Health and Disease in a memorable meeting held in Ein Kerem in May 2010. Eliezer will undoubtedly be missed by his family and by the extended biomedical community of which Bioiron is part of and closest to his heart.
In the name of the Board of Directors of IBIS (International Society for the Study of Iron in Biology and Medicine) we extend our deepest condolences to family and friends for the loss of an eminent personality that will be missed by those who were privileged to work with him.
Prof. (Emeritus) Ioav Cabantchik, President
Prof. Martina Muckenthaller, President Elect
Monday, December 17 2017.