I would like to express my deep sadness on the loss of our dearest friend Jean-Michel Dubernard. He was an esteemed colleague, a true scientist and a pioneer in the history of transplantation. It has been a privilege to know him since many years.

Our dear friend, Professor Dubernard, passed away at the age of 80 due to a tragic accident at Istanbul Airport on Saturday, July 10, 2021 while travelling with his family. He left a grave legacy behind and will be recognized as a great mentor and educator by young surgeons and physicians.

He was born in Lyon, France, in 1941. Dr. Dubernard graduated from Lyon University in 1967. He then served as a Research Fellow with Joseph Murray at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (1965-1967) in Boston, USA. He subsequently received his PhD in Transplantation Immunology in 1971. He served as a surgeon in the Department of Urology and Transplantation Surgery at E. Herriot Hospital in Lyon.

Dr. Dubernard was a pioneering French surgeon who performed the world's first successful hand and face transplants: He led the world's first hand transplant in 23 September 1998 creating a sensation in the medical world that brought him global recognition. Two years later, he performed the first double hand and forearm transplant. In 27 November 2005, Dr. Dubernard reached the height of his fame with the first partial face transplant, which saw him graft on the nose, lips and chin from a brain-dead donor.

Dr. Dubernard was a true visionary with his research interests in experimental surgery, clinical transplantation (especially renal transplantation in children), medical technology, general urology, renal and pancreatic lithotripsy, endoscopy of the upper urinary tract investigations of male impotence, vascular surgery and microsurgery. He was also the co-founder and organizer of the Hesperis course, a comprehensive course on organ transplantation, providing an innovative educational platform to those who are entering the field.

Dr. Dubernard was the President of the International Hand and Composite Tissue Allografts, as well as the Founder and President of the European College of Transplantation. He also served as the President of the International Microsurgical Society (1984-1986), President of the Société Française de Transplantation (1991-1994), and President of the International Pancreatic and Islet Transplant Association (1996-1997).

Since 1980 he has been a member of the European Society for Organ Transplantation’s Founding Council. He was awarded the ESOT Honorary membership during the ESOT Congress in 2007. In 2008 Dr. Dubernard received the Medawar Prize, the highest award of the The Transplantation Society (TTS). Dr. Dubernard was the former Deputy Mayor of Lyon and also served as a Deputy in the French National Assembly.

He was married to Camille Dubernard and they shared a lifetime filled with love, joy and happiness. He will be deeply missed by the entire transplant community and I send my heartfelt condolences to his family. May God have his soul rest in peace.