Toronto (May 30, 2010) - It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic and untimely passing of Dr. Andrew Mark Herzenberg, a Pathologist at the University Health Network (UHN).
Born in South Africa, Andrew was raised in Windsor, Ontario. He went to the University of Toronto medical school and trained in Pathology at University of British Columbia (Vancouver) where he developed an interest in renal pathology while training with Dr. Alex Magil. He came to UHN as a Fellow in renal pathology and joined the staff as Assistant Professor in 2003.
Andrew was an emerging national and international star in the world of renal pathology. He was an active member of the Renal Pathology Society and ran the Amgen Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Toronto General Hospital. He was involved in a new international classification scheme for renal disorders, and was a highly sought after experimental mouse pathologist. His expertise provided the basis for the management of patients with renal disease throughout Ontario. Andrew was also an outstanding teacher who mentored and trained renal pathologists and nephrology trainees from around the world in a fellowship program that combined diagnostic and research training in a unique integrated fashion.
Andrew was admired for his commitment to maintaining a work-life balance and was a wonderful husband to his wife, Leanne Shafir, and loving father of his two young daughters, Talia and Gabrielle. He was an energetic and unstoppable athlete who was known for his bicycle and rollerblades as much as his renal pathology.
His tragic passing is a terrible loss to the Department of Pathology and the Laboratory Medicine Program, as well as to the Division of Nephrology. He was a warm and fun person who was truly loved by his many friends and colleagues at UHN. His colleagues throughout the world will miss him.
In honour of Andrew's memory, a fund has been established in his name to support renal pathology research at UHN. If you would like to make a contribution to this fund, please visit www.herzenbergtribute.ca. [UPDATED: This site is no longer active.] A memorial service is being arranged and we will update you as soon we receive more information.
We extend to Andrew's family our most sincere condolences.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sylvia Asa, Brad Davis
