Adel A. Yunis, MD, passed away on July 7 at the age of 93, leaving behind an impressive legacy of cancer research and leadership.
Dr. Yunis came to the U.S. in 1956 from his birthplace of Lebanon. He started his career in the U.S. at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and joined the University of Miami in 1965. He finished his career there, retiring in 1996.
While at the University of Miami, Dr. Yunis served as division chief of hematology as well as the training director of the department. In this role, he made a significant impact, training several generations of hematologists.
Dr. Yunis authored 140 original contributions, 18 review abstracts, 116 original abstracts, and one book over the decades. His research involved pioneering work in drug-induced marrow failure, particularly chloramphenicol-associated aplastic anemia. Dr. Yunis also contributed to pancreatic cancer research.
Throughout his career, Dr. Yunis received multiple honors and awards, including the Research Career Development Award in 1967 from the U.S. Public Health Service. He was also named a scholar from 1961 to 1966 by the Leukemia Society, served as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator from 1968 to 1981, and received a citation in the 41st edition of Marquis “Who’s Who in America” in 1980.
Dr. Yunis served on multiple editorial boards and was a member of many professional societies, including the American Society of Hematology.
