It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Professor Sir Peter Morris last weekend at the age of 88. Peter was a much loved and respected figure in the international transplant community, with a clinical career that encompassed Australia, the US and the UK, eventually settling as the Nuffield Chair of Surgery in Oxford where he established the Oxford transplant programme. After retiring from the NDS, he took up the Presidency of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, during which time the Clinical Effectiveness Unit for surgical audit was established.
Upon leaving the role of President, Peter set up the Centre for Evidence in Transplantation, originally as part of the CEU, in 2005. It was his vision to create a virtual centre that would provide easy access to high quality evidence in organ transplantation, and critically appraising this evidence through systematic reviews and meta-analyses. As part of the Centre, he led the development of the Transplant Library, a specialist resource of high-quality evidence that serves as an easily searched resource for busy clinicians, researchers and other related health professionals.
Peter’s drive to further transplantation science, and improve the quality of transplantation research was seen throughout his long career. He was a fantastic inspiration and mentor for those that worked with him, taking a great deal of interest in helping to develop the careers of trainees and others around him. He was also fun to work with – always pleasant, unflappable and accommodating. He had many passions, including good food and wine, and of course cricket.
Peter will be greatly missed by all of us at the CET. Peter is survived by his wife Jocelyn and five children, whom our thoughts are with at this time.
Obituary: https://www.nds.ox.ac.uk/news/obituary-professor-sir-peter-j-morris-frs?ref=image