The American Society of Transplantation (AST) collectively mourns the tragic loss of Josh Levitsky, MD, MS, FAST, FAASLD, beloved husband, devoted father, distinguished physician-scientist, adored educator, selfless mentor, and revered leader in liver transplantation. Josh unexpectedly passed away on February 18, 2024, just before his 53rd birthday. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Rachel, and their children, Mia and Ben. Josh made innumerable contributions to the AST culminating with his presidency from 2023-2024.
Below is a tribute, written by Dr. Lisa VanWagner, a former trainee, mentee, colleague, and friend.
Henry Adams, a 19th century American historian and academic wrote, A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. This quote perfectly describes Josh, who trained, mentored, inspired, and advocated for the next generation of leaders in gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplantation. The list of his mentees, both those he directly trained and those he sponsored from afar (see below), is incredible. Through his personal investment in each of our lives and careers, the future of transplant burns so brightly.
Josh frequently and fondly reflected on his own training experiences, which profoundly impacted his career and mentoring philosophy. After earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Josh completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Chicago. He then pursued additional postdoctoral training in transplant hepatology and immunology at the University of Nebraska under Dr. Michael Sorrell. In 2005, he returned to Chicago to join the Departments of Medicine and Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and in 2008, completed a master’s in clinical investigation from the Northwestern University Graduate School.
Josh’s destiny as a master clinician and his passion for teaching was quickly apparent when he arrived at Northwestern. As Dr. Gregory Cote, one of Josh’s first fellows at Northwestern and now Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Oregon Health & Sciences University, wrote, “Josh arrived during a difficult time at NU, as Andy Blei - a legend - was nearing the end of his career and leaving a gigantic void. It was quickly apparent that Josh Levitsky was going to be an extraordinary hepatologist and teacher. I vividly remember his clipboard and watching him sit on the bed next to patients. He had a gigantic knowledge base yet practiced with the greatest humility, sincerity, and compassion for his patients.”
From 2007 to 2019, Josh served as Fellowship Director of Transplant Hepatology at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and was instrumental in helping to develop and pilot the now ACGME approved Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Training Program. He then went on to additionally lead the Gastroenterology Fellowship program at Northwestern for seven years (2013-2021). Throughout his nearly 20 years on faculty, Josh received numerous teaching awards from medical students, residents, and fellows and in 2013, was inducted as a member of the Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators.
Josh had a passion for cutting-edge translational science, and he also made lasting contributions to the field as a clinician, mentor, and leader of the American Society of Transplantation.
As the consummate clinician-scientist, Josh always understood the importance of bringing cutting-edge science to his patients. His research focused on liver transplant immunology, tolerance, and biomarkers of immunosuppression, particularly related to preserving kidney health before and after transplantation. His research was unique in that it bridged multiple “silos” of transplantation, bringing hepatologists, nephrologists, and other organ specialists together. For his outstanding research achievements, the AST bestowed the highly prestigious Clinical Science Investigator Award to Josh in 2014, and in 2023, he was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). Josh also served as Associate Editor (2012-2018), and most recently Deputy Editor (2020-2025) of the American Journal of Transplantation (AJT). Josh pioneered the AJT Highlights Podcast, a monthly audio podcast summarizing key AJT articles needing broader, immediate dissemination. He was directly responsible for increasing the proportion of liver-related transplant manuscripts published in the journal, propelling AJT to become one of the premier journals for liver-transplant related research.
Josh’s contributions to the AST were many, culminating with the AST presidency from 2023-2024. During his presidency, Josh never wavered as a champion for the education, growth, and career development of transplant trainees within AST. There is nothing more important to the long-term future of an organization than investment in its future leaders, particularly the young trainee members, and Josh demonstrated a tireless commitment to growing this investment within the AST. For six years (2014-2020), he served on the program planning committee of the AST Fellows Symposium. He also helped to establish the vibrant AST Workforce task force, dedicated to structuring solutions to develop the transplant workforce in the coming years. Most importantly, as an AST Board member Josh formulated the AST Comprehensive Trainee Curriculum, including nearly 50 lectures given by leaders in the transplant field representing multiple disciplines in solid organ transplantation. Many of us smile when thinking of Josh’s infamous transplant immunology lectures given in a deep, monotone voice that was quintessentially Josh. These lectures have lived on in perpetuity, as colleagues far and wide use them to refresh their knowledge prior to recertifying for transplant boards.
Within the AST Liver and Intestine Community of Practice (LICOP), I personally witnessed Josh’s dedication in recruiting trainee members, including myself, to the AST. Josh once declared, “AST is the home for transplant hepatologists,” and was instrumental in ensuring that hepatology flourished within the organization. He made each of us feel valued and included within the COP, engaging us early on with COP initiatives to help promote our growth within the transplant field. Josh participated as a mentor every year in the long-standing LICOP Trainee and Young Faculty Development Program, often spending hours with his mentees. Quite notably, he was an exemplary sponsor for women in medicine, helping to foster a culture of inclusion, support, and promotion, which contributed greatly to the diversity and strength of the AST.
As I got to know Josh, I quickly appreciated his love and affection for his family. He would often talk about how he met Rachel, his wife of 27 years, while they were undergraduates at the University of Michigan. Most of the time, he would cajole me about Northwestern’s latest football loss, as his Michigan Wolverine spirit never wavered despite working in the Northwestern Wildcat environment for two decades! He proudly displayed Michigan memorabilia alongside his children’s artwork in his office, even though Mia (a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin) and Ben (who followed in Dad’s footsteps and attends the University of Michigan) have stopped bringing art projects home long ago. Josh loved to share their many accomplishments, beaming with pride over the young woman and man they had become. During my own difficult journey to start a family during training, and years later as a colleague with young children, Josh often pulled me into his office to “check in” and ensure that I was supported. This past year, as I battled breast cancer, Josh texted me nearly every week just to let me know that he was thinking of me. When I last saw him in November at the Liver Meeting in San Diego, he gushed over his most recent family trip to Munich in August to see Taylor Swift (yes, even Josh was a Swiftie) and then to Austria where he attended high school. He truly cherished every moment with family.
The void that has been left by Josh’s too soon departure cannot be quantified. He meant so much to so many that I could fill pages with stories and anecdotes, and accolades. Tributes from patients, colleagues, family, and friends have poured out over the past week and I hope will continue for many more to come. It is heartwarming to know that so many others experienced the same warmth, kindness, and genuineness that was Josh. Let us never forget his commitment to his patients, profession, colleagues, family and of course, to the AST. Let us honor him by inspiring the next generation.
Examples of the Mentoring, Training, and Advising Legacy of Dr. Josh Levitsky
- Sumeet Asrani MD
- Professor of Medicine, Chief of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Medical Director of the Center for Advanced Liver Disease, Baylor Simmons Transplant Institute, Dallas, TX
- Pranab Barman, MD
- Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
- Justin Boike, MD, MPH
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Co-Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Christine Chan, MD
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Amanda Cheung, MD
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Gregory Cote, MD, MS
- Professor of Medicine, Division Head, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Oregon Health and Sciences University
- Madeleine Heldman, MD, MS
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Dempsey Hughes MD
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Leila Kia, MD
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Program Director of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Lindsay King, MD, MPH
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Themis Kourkoumptsis, MD, MPH
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Baylor, Scott & White Health, Fort Worth, TX
- Michael Kriss, MD
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Associate Program Director, Transplant Hepatology fellowship, UCHealth Transplant Physician Informaticist Champion, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
- Alex Lemmer, MD
- Transplant Hepatologist, Piedmont Transplant Institute, Atlanta, GA
- Maureen Whitsett Linganna MD MPH
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
- Haripriya Maddur, MD
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Arizona School of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
- Nikhilesh Mazumdar, MD, MPH
- Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Christopher Moore, MD
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Program Director of Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Jennifer Newton Laxmann, MD
- Hepatologist, Confluence Health, Wenatchee, Washington
- Kathleen Nilles, MD
- Transplant Hepatologist, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
- JP Norvell, MD
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Program Director, Medical Director of Inpatient Transplant Hepatology Unit, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
- Neehar Parikh, MD, MS, FAASLD
- Associate Professor of Transplant Hepatology, Medical Director of the Liver Tumor Program and Director of Clinical Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Parita Patel, MD
- Transplant Hepatologist, Piedmont Transplant Institute, Atlanta, GA
- Anjana Pillai, MD, FAASLD
- Professor of Medicine, Medical Director of the Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Program, Co-Director of the Adult Living Donor Liver Transplant Program, Program Director of Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Stacey Prenner, MD
- Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency, Director of Integrated Learning Modules Curriculum, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Marina Serper, MD, MPH
- Associate Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology, Program Director for Research, Gastroenterology Fellowship, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Hersh Shroff, MD, MPA
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
- Avesh Thuluvath, MD, MS
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Lisa VanWagner, MD, MSc, FAST, FAHA
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical Research, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Natasha Von Roenn, MD
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Program Director of Transplant Hepatology, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Loyola University School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
- Elizabeth Verna MD MSc FAST FAASLD
- Frank Cardile Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical Research, Columbia University Transplant Initiative and the Transplant Clinical Research Center, Director of Hepatology Research, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University College of Medicine, New York, NY
Members of the LICOP Executive Committee, ATC 2019, Boston, MA. Josh served as board liaison to the committee for 7 years and proudly displayed the yellow LICOP mentoring pin. From left: Dr. Lisa VanWagner, Dr. Josh Levitsky, Anne Kreiss (AST staff), Dr. Helen Te, Dr. Betsy Verna, Dr. Jennifer Lai
ATC 2024, Philadelphia, PA. Josh inspired the next generation of leaders of LICOP. He is shown here with Dr. Anjana Pillai (LICOP Past Chair) and Dr. Cristina Segovia (LICOP Chair).
Tributes to Josh Levitsky
An outstanding physician, scientist, and human being. He'll be sorely missed.
--Fadi Lakkis
I am so overwhelmed by the loss of one of the significant leaders in our field and someone I considered a friend. My favorite memory of Josh is being at ATC in San Diego and the joy he emitted during casual conversations and when discussing the success of his many mentees. His passing has left a void that will be impossible to fill. We will miss you Josh.
--Juliet Emamaullee
I knew Josh for many years. Aside from our engagements on heptology and liver transplantation, Josh always touched my heart in his sensative approach to the events in Israel. We had meaningful discussions in which he showed how much he cared. Shalom Chaver!
--Eliezer Katz
We are so sorry to hear of Josh's death and the loss to his family and friends, and of course his loss to the transplantation community. We have been enjoying a fruitful collaboration with Josh and looking forward to new horizons with him. We will deeply miss him, but remember his contributions and honor his memory. I am sure his life changed the lives of many - patients and colleagues and students.
--Phil Halloran
Josh was such a bright light in the transplant field, dedicated to improving patient care and advancing science in the field. I am so appreciative of his leadership. It was always a joy to interact with him. He had a gentle kindness and focus that made him so special. I will truly miss him. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
--Camille Nelson Kotton MD, FAST
A phenomenal academic physician in our field and an even better person. A great loss. My condolences 💐.
--Dixon
I am so heartbroken over the loss of Josh. He was such kind, inspiring, brilliant physician that really wanted the absolute best for his patients and colleagues. It was an honor to work with him on regulatory T cell therapy at Northwestern during my post-doc. He will be remembered and live on through our memories and continued pursuit of science!
--Jessica Voss
This is a tremendous loss to the Transplant Community, our patients, and me personally. Josh was a dear friend, fantastic colleague, outstanding physician, and will always be a role model aspire to as the compassionate human we want to become. Josh will be missed terribly by me, and I can only remotely image how much he will be missed by those of who he was an integral part of their lives. My thoughts are with them.
--Michael Mengel
I will always remember is joy of music and dance. He was a lover of life and glowed with joy. He will be missed by all of us.
--Shelley Hall
More important than being a respected physician and researcher, Josh was a dedicated family man. He would leave a conference or step out of a conference call if it saved him from missing a birthday, an anniversary, or something important to his kids. He loved music and dancing. His year as president was full of playlists crafted from his colleague’s favorite songs and after dinner dance parties. His enthusiasm in bring everyone together through music was something special to see. I will continue to listen to his “Levitsky is 50-Let’s Dance!” playlist and remember his smile, that amazing emcee voice, and his kind, caring nature.
--Shandie Covington
Very sad news. My heartfelt condolences and thoughts go out to Josh’s family. A gentle soul, wonderful colleague, great scientist and compassionate physician. Josh, you will be missed, but remain fond in the memory of so many.
--Roy First
Josh was someone you could call with a medical question in a complex case, a research idea, a favor, a request to help someone he didn’t even know, or just for no reason at all. He was thoughtful about how to develop his mentees and position them for leadership. He often said, “You have to be a good clinician first, everything else will follow.” His passing leaves a void; he was one of kind. We can only aspire to be like him and pay it forward.
--Marina Serper
I will miss Josh's magnanimous personality, warmth, conviction, knowledge, and devotion to advancing the science and clinical practice of transplantation and training the future generation.
--Maryjane Farr
Morning walks during in-person board meetings, where conversations flowed as effortlessly as the steps. The playlists he curated with such pride, each song a reflection of his vibrant spirit. His uncontainable joy for singing and dancing. The great conversations shared over even greater meals, always paired with an Old Fashioned he couldn’t resist. His kindness, his sensitivity—qualities that made him cherished.
--Vineeta Kumar
Dr. Levitsky was a real one. Very cool dude. Funny guy; made work fun.
Taught me various Yiddish words.
Always glowed when he spoke about his daughter, Mia. Mia, he loved/loves you so very much. Spoke about you every day. Hope she knows that.
He was my grief mentor when my mom died. I am so grateful for him. Made me a better person.
May his memory be a blessing.
--Monica Norlander
A true leader who ensured he was thoughtful and inclusive. My prayers are with his family and close friends.
--Barry Friedman
Dr. Josh Levitsky: A Legacy of Excellence, Mentorship, and Compassion
Dr. Josh Levitsky, a highly respected professor and gastroenterologist at Northwestern University, has passed away, leaving an immense void in the medical community, academia, and the lives of those privileged to know him. His sudden passing has sent waves of sorrow throughout Chicago and beyond, as colleagues, students, patients, and loved ones mourn the loss of a brilliant physician, educator, mentor, and friend.
There are no words that can fully capture the depth of this loss or the shock we all feel. Josh was more than just an extraordinary physician and scientist; he was a kind, thoughtful, and deeply compassionate person. His sharp intellect, unwavering commitment to those around him, and unique ability to bring humor and warmth to any situation made him truly one of a kind.
Josh’s impact on transplant hepatology and transplant medicine is immeasurable. His contributions to research and clinical practice were matched only by his dedication to mentorship. The list of those he guided—both directly and from afar—is astounding. Every transplant hepatologist has, at some point, heard Josh’s voice in their head when considering immunosuppression. His lectures in the AASLD board review course and AST fellows course left an indelible mark on the field, shaping the knowledge and practice of countless physicians.
Beyond his professional influence, Josh deeply cared for his colleagues and mentees. He celebrated their successes, encouraged them through their challenges, and invested in their growth with unparalleled generosity. His friendship extended far beyond academic mentorship—he walked alongside his mentees through life’s hardships and triumphs with unwavering support.
His presence, wisdom, and laughter will be profoundly missed. There was only one Josh, and there will never be another. His memory lives on in the many lives he touched, the knowledge he shared, and the lasting legacy he built.
As we grieve, let us find solace in the community he helped create, reaching out to one another with the same kindness and care that Josh exemplified. In the coming days and weeks, we will find ways to honor him, but for now, let us hold onto the memories of the incredible person he was.
Josh, you made all our lives better. We will miss you dearly.
--Daniel R Ganger
I am deeply saddened by this shocking news… Remembering starting off together as young attendings at Northwestern on Galter 19 in 2005, and all the TLC you gave as a dear colleague throughout highs and lows, and all the happiness we shared from running into each other in recent years at various places and during various meetings, I will miss you for a long time my dear friend…
--Xunrong Luo
I had the privilege of working with Josh on multiple research studies over almost 2 decades. Josh taught me so much about the importance of keeping the patient voice at the center of research - long before it became common practice. No matter how difficult or stressful the situation, Josh treated everyone - his patients, his study teams, his colleagues - with humor, respect, and kindness. He was so incredibly proud of his family, dedicated to his patients, and enthusiastic about his research. Josh was a charismatic, positive leader who left a lasting impression - and will continue to do so through his memory.
--Allison Priore
This news is devastating and we offer our condolences to Josh’s family and all our friends who knew him. His energy, enthusiasm, intellect, integrity and insight were exemplary. His contributions to transplantation are huge. I remember him very fondly and will miss him. A terrible loss to the community. Josh, rest in peace. 🙏
--Rajiv Jalan
I got to know Josh through both research projects and ATC planning. He was a thought leader in the field of transplantation, a great organizer of people and a driver of consensus where that is a rare skill. He always seemed motivated by doing the right thing for patients and the field in general. In a world filled with large egos he was a uniter and made huge contributions to our field. A true gentleman and a scholar - may his memory be a blessing.
--Matthew Levine
Dr. Levitsky was a compassionate and caring physician and an approachable, collaborative, and kind leader/team member. I was lucky enough to work with him for 3 years early on in my career as a transplant clinical pharmacy specialist at Northwestern. In addition to patient care, we collaborated on protocols and a research project where I learned so much from him. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable but also was friendly, kind, humble, and approachable which are not always traits observed in individuals with many accomplishments and accolades. These same traits carried through in his care of patients. He will be greatly missed by the transplant community. His legacy will live on. Thinking of his family during this devastating time.
--Jennifer McDermott, PharmD, BCTXP, BCPS, FAST
I was fortunate enough to work alongside Josh in our liver transplant clinic as the pharmacist. He was incredibly smart, kind, and patient. He will be missed by all.
--Clare Kane
Dr. Levitsky was a great champion for liver patients and we share in this profound loss. 💚💙
--American Liver Foundation
He and I shared the love & history about Jazz, I would stop in his office and he would be playing some Miles Davis, whom we both really enjoyed.i will truly miss him and those tunes we shared together. Rest my friend.🙏❤️🙏❤️
--Tee Davis
Josh was a very nice person, a true expert in Liver transplantation and in Immunology of transplantation. Too young! My very Best thoughts to his family.
--Prof Didier Samuel
Josh has been a trusted friend and colleague for over 20 years. He had impeccable integrity and excellence and was beloved by his patients. He will be missed! Rest in peace my friend.
--Suzanne Ildstad
Josh Levitsky is a mentor's mentor. My own mentor Carl Berg introduced Josh to me by inviting him to come to Duke and speak early in my faculty career. From that time forward, I connected with Josh through joining the AST LICOP education subcommittee. He always took a genuine interest in my career, discussing research topics and LICOP initiatives. He also connected me to other members of AST who are dear friends to me today. When he came to Duke for speaking engagements, Josh would always offer extra time for meeting with our trainees and faculty. We would do an annual group dinner. Josh would stay after and ask me about leading the transplant program and provide advice and guidance . Despite not working with Josh directly at the same institution, I knew of his devotion to his family and his deep pride in his children. As I began my term as LICOP EC Co-Chair, he was constantly focused on making sure we invested in our mentoring program and increasing trainee interest in transplantation to continue the strong transplant hepatology workforce. His legacy inspires us all to connect together through the AST and be leaders and mentors as we continue to advance the field of solid organ transplantation.
--Lindsay King
I had the opportunity to work and learn from Dr. Levitsky as a transplant surgery fellow at Northwestern 12 yrs ago. He was a brilliant hepatologist and an amazing educator. He will be missed dearly. My condolences to his family.
--Ram Seshadri MD FACS
I am devastated. It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since I began working with Josh His expertise in AKI and transplant medicine was immense, but what I remember most was his humility, unwavering passion, and dedication to advancing the field via research. He always made time to mentor junior colleagues, advocate fiercely for patients, and share his knowledge generously. We worked together as we were analzying data in Hepatorenal Syndrome and Liver transplant patient, in the era where MELD scores gets impacted by RRT. He had an uncanny ability to simplify complex topics so everyone can understand it, Josh's passing is a true loss to the medical community, but his legacy of compassion and innovation will undoubtedly continue to inspire for generations to come. He will be deeply missed. May his family get courage and solace from his amazing legacy!
--Khurram Jamil
My relationship with Josh started out professionally but developed into a friendship. He was always so thoughtful, always reached out whether it was to see how I was doing, find a way to get me back into transplant, or simply to wish me a happy birthday. I am so grateful to have known him, worked along side him on so many important initiatives and call him my friend. The last time I saw him was at ATC where we celebrated his presidency. My deepest condolences to his friends and family. My heart hurts knowing what a loss this is for the transplant community.
--Maria Lopes
I was truly devastated to hear the news. Josh was an incredible person—an outstanding clinician, a dedicated researcher, and, above all, one of the most humble individuals despite his many accolades and achievements. He was always approachable and willing to lend his time whenever you needed to talk. I will deeply miss working with him. His passing is an irreplaceable loss to the transplant community. Gone too soon. Rest in peace, dear Josh.
--Sunil Kurian
It is hard to fully understand the depth of loss you feel for someone who is no longer in your daily life but has profoundly impacted your entire professional career. I was Josh’s first ACGME accredited TH fellow, something I was proud of -especially now, looking at the super star group of physicians he mentored. I remember my very first interview with him as a GI fellow and being impressed by his amazing depth of knowledge and clarity to his own career path at such an early stage in his career. He was a master clinician and to this day I can hear his voice when it comes to immunosuppression management. I’ve always reached out to him in various stages after my training and he always had words of wisdom with his quirky sense of humor. He was instrumental in my involvement with AST, which gave me a second transplant family. He deeply believed in our mission as physicians, scientists and educators and was so proud of all his mentees’ accomplishments. I feel incredibly lucky to have been his mentee and friend.
--Anjana Pillai
Josh was brother to me. We trained together during fellowship and have been friends for over 20 years. A truly inspiring human being, whom I cherished. We were all lucky to have these short 20+years with such an amazing person in our 'transplant world'. He made it a fun and cool place to be. He will forever be loved and missed.
--Kym Watt
I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Josh. He was a true leader in transplantation, whose dedication and contributions were instrumental to our field and to our society. His impact on our colleagues and trainees will be long-lasting, and his legacy will continue to inspire. My thoughts are with his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
--Leo Riella
I will greatly miss Dr. Levitsky. As a transplant patient, I couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate doctor when I transitioned to adult care. This news is devastating and I’m wishing all the best for his family.
--Nicole Halm
I was a new patient of Dr Levitsky. When I saw him Ibwas full of anxiety over my medical statue. Dr Levitsky was quick to give me reassurance after reviewing my scan while employing a kind and compassionate demeanor. I was to follow up after my next MRI this year. I am very sad for his loss and extend my condolences to his family. I am sure he will always be remembered by all the lives he touched including many students of medicine.
--Arlene Baker
In one (or two words), Josh was a the quintessential teacher and leader. He was instrumental in jumpstarting my career into hepatology. But what really stands out to me, now, is his gift for teaching, making complicated things easy to understand and motivating and inspiring a new generation of hepatologists. There is a long trail for Northwestern-influenced hepatologists running amok around the country and a smaller group gunning for operational tolerance, all thanks to Josh.
--Pranab Barman
When I was preparing for my first ATC, I kept hearing about the President's Dinner and how much Josh loved dancing. Senior staff would always share stories of him grabbing the mic and singing with so much enthusiasm. In 2022, at my first ATC in Boston, I finally got to experience it for myself. There was Josh, singing karaoke with everything he had—his energy was infectious, and you could see how much he truly loved being in the moment.
--Raffaella Troiano
Dr. Levitsky was more than just my Dr. he believed in me when I was going through a very difficult time. He helped me through with his kind words and non sugar coating reality. He never gave up on me. Him and Nurse Mary always made me feel like they really cared. I’m deeply saddened. We lost a really great Dr. and amazing person. There’s not many Doctors like Dr. Levitsky, he will be greatly missed but he will always be in my heart. ♥️
--Valerie Toma
I had the chance opportunity to meet Josh in a small group exercise in 2012 during the AST Fellow's Symposium. He made an immediate impression on me, and became someone I would admire and emulate throughout my career moving forward. He became an example to me of how to not only be transplant hepatologist, clinician, researcher, teacher, but partner, father, friend. He was both mentor and friend. His giving personality, genuine kindness, and incredible intellect have been gifts to all of us. He is already incredibly missed. During this time of grief, I take comfort in knowing we will "pay forward" the kindness he showed us. This is one of the many ways his legacy continues as we honor him by sharing what he gave each of us. Thank you Josh Levitsky for having such an impact on me. Thank you Levitsky family for sharing him with all of us.
--Matt Kappus
He was so generous with his time and ALWAYS thinking of others first, especially those who he had mentored. Every time I spoke to him, his first thought was to ask how his past mentees were doing - he was always checking in on them - whether they realized it or not!
--Stevan Gonzalez
I looked forward to hearing Dr. Levitsky parse out the details of complex manuscripts and offer expert commentary on all things transplant every month as part of AJT highlights. While I never met Dr. Levitsky, his dedication to both the art and craft of medicine and research were evident in his interactions with Dr. Mannon and the editorial fellows. The transplant community will certainly miss Dr. Levitksy. My condolences to the Levitsky family.
--Eric Bhaimia
I was very saddened by the loss of my friend and colleague Josh Levitsky. I had many opportunities to work with Josh on committees and initiatives in the areas of immunosuppression, immune tolerance, biomarkers and mechanisms and treatment of rejection. In fact he visited the Toronto Transplant program several times as a visiting professor and we tried several times to recruit him to lead the GI Transplant Program and as Director of the Multi Organ Transplant Program. . Not only did Josh contribute and lead many transplant initiatives, his manner was one to be emulated. He was not only extremely bright but he was humble, modest and kind and showed great respect for all those he worked with. Josh will be missed by all of those he touched. My best wishes go out to his family. May his memory be a blessing.
--Gary Levy OC O ONT MD FRCP Emeritus Director Transplant Insitute University of Toronto
I met Dr. Levitsky as a first year medical student at Northwestern in the fall of 2012. I approached him as a possible mentor for the school's new concept of an "area of scholarly concentration" for medical students. The first year of medical school is awkward for many reasons, including but not limited to 1) lack of an identity within medicine, 2) a subtle suggestion that one must love every aspect of clinic to really be a "good doctor", and 3) having a vague interest in research without REALLY knowing what clinical investigation entails. Dr. Levitsky validated all of these emotions for me. He was a role model for how to balance being an outstanding clinician while maintaining a scholarly focus, and a primary reason why I decided to pursue a career in transplantation (albeit, in transplant ID and not hepatology). During virtual ATC 2021, several years since we had last spoken, I received an unexpected text message from Josh with kind words and a photo of me presenting at WTC seven years earlier. Connecting with him at ATC became an annual tradition for the few years we had left with him. It is rare for a medical student to have a mentor go above and beyond for them; it is even rarer for that mentor to maintain a personal investment in trainees' growth years later. May his memory be a blessing.
--Madeleine Heldman
A fountain of liver knowledge combined with professional yet playful delivery-- great to sit in and enjoy his didactics, conferences, and wallowing over hepatic dilemmas
--Alan Koffron
On behalf of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of American Society of Transplantation (AST) Past President Josh Levitsky, MD, MS, FAST, FAASLD. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. ASN’s members, leadership, staff, and I sincerely appreciate Dr. Levitsky’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between AST and ASN. As an example, by always focusing on AST’s mission to promote “research, education, advocacy, organ donation, and service to the community through a lens of equity and inclusion,” Dr. Levitsky helped ensure the successful ASN-AST partnership to advocate that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education begin accrediting transplant nephrology programs. Additionally, my colleagues and I appreciated Dr. Levitsky’s commitment to working together in the policy arena on shared goals, such as increasing living donor transplantation and strengthening education for transplant nephrologists. Through this commitment, Dr. Levitsky will help improve the lives of millions of people living with kidney diseases. At this difficult time, my thoughts are with Dr. Levitsky’s family as well as AST’s members, leadership, staff, and you.
--Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN
I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support for our team here at Northwestern. It has been really amazing and a reminder of why our field is so special.
Josh and I started at Northwestern at the same time in 2005. We grew up here together in transplant, learning from each other and supporting each other. Later, when our research interests aligned in biomarker discovery, our journey continued. And we felt so lucky to be able to serve the AST on the board together.
Josh has been such a constant in my life for so long, it is impossible to imagine that he is now gone. And far too soon. I will miss the little things...walking by his office, stopping in, and just shooting the breeze.
Josh was a truly amazing person, gifted physician and researcher, and a generous friend. We are all better for having been a part of his life. I will never forget you, my friend. And I will honor you by continuing the work that we did together for so many years. Your memory gives me strength.
--John Friedewald
So sad , 😞
Big loss
--Ahmed Swelam
Think where man's glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such a friend.
William Butler Yeats
"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." - Rumi
Rest in peace my friend
--John Gill
Josh was a dedicated researcher, an excellent clinician, and an inspiring colleague. He was intelligent, kind, and driven to find answers to improve outcomes for his patients. We had the good fortune to work with Josh on several research projects, and will very much miss this in future. This loss has left an irreplaceable gap in the research community. We send our sincere condolences to Josh’s friends, family, colleagues, patients, and the research community at large who are missing his presence and influence.
--Drs. Philip Halloran & Katelynn Madill-Thomsen
Josh was a compassionate, thoughtful gentleman. He led by example, reaching out with questions and ideas that improved my leadership of the AJT Fellowship and AST committees. He encouraged me to stay involved in AST projects and national issues, knowing that no one can achieve the goals of the community alone. I will miss Josh's ready smile and thoughtful comments and wise leadership.
--Chris Blosser
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