In Memoriam – Gene A. Pierce

The AST is saddened to hear about the passing of UNOS founder and original executive director, Gene Pierce. He passed away at the age of 87.

Pierce began his transplant career in 1964 as a surgical administrator at the Medical College of Virginia (VCU Health). In 1984, UNOS was founded with Pierce as its executive director.

Pierce retired in 1995. The national network had grown to include 60 organ procurement organizations and more than 220 transplant hospitals, performing more than 19,000 transplants per year.