The RSNA and European Society of Radiology (ESR) are mourning the sudden death on May 4 of Dr. Richard Baron, the RSNA's immediate past president.
Baron served in numerous leadership positions at the RSNA, culminating in his presidency in 2016. In a statement, the RSNA board of directors expressed deep sadness at the loss of their longtime colleague and friend. He was widely respected by colleagues across the globe as a diagnostic radiologist, educator, author, and researcher, the RSNA said.
An abdominal imaging radiologist, Baron was a professor of radiology at the University of Chicago from 2002 until his passing, according to the RSNA. He also served as chair of the radiology department from 2002 to 2011 and as dean for clinical practice from 2011 to 2013. Baron came to the University of Chicago after a stint at the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as chair of the radiology department from 1992 to 1999, and as founding president and CEO of the University of Pittsburgh Physicians from 1997 to 2002. His research focused on the diagnostic imaging of liver disease.
Baron joined the RSNA board of directors in 2008 and served as its liaison for education and international affairs. He worked closely with radiology associations around the world and received many accolades, such as honorary membership in the ESR earlier this year, the Medal of Honor and honorary membership in the French Radiological Society in 2015, and the Gold Medal of the Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology in 2014.
In a post on its website, the ESR said that Baron was a very close friend of European radiology and was admired as a leader, researcher, and teacher. In addition to becoming an honorary ESR member, Baron delivered the W.C. Röntgen Honorary Lecture at the 2011 European Congress of Radiology.
"He was an immensely popular figure among his colleagues in Europe and throughout the world, and he will be very dearly missed," the ESR said.
Baron is survived by his wife, Shirley, son Tim, and daughter Christine, according to the RSNA. A memorial service for Baron will be held at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31. A reception will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the Baron family requested that a donation be made to the RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation. In his memory, a fund has been established for donations that will go to support a young radiology researcher in abdominal imaging, the RSNA said.
