Donald Landry '83
The VP&S Alumni Association presented Donald Landry '83 with the Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Medical Research at the 2023 alumni reunion.
As a scientist and longtime physician-in-chief at VP&S, Dr. Landry has used his clinical acumen to identify and forge novel medical approaches to intractable health challenges. His work on cocaine addiction led to the discovery of the first artificial enzyme to degrade cocaine. His discovery of vasopressin deficiency syndrome in vasodilatory shock led to the use of vasopressin to treat septic shock and vasodilatory shock after cardiopulmonary bypass. Aware of reports on pump-based continuous dialysis, Dr. Landry built a continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration apparatus to provide continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and in-serviced 100 ICU nurses to start ICU Nephrology at VP&S. He also founded the Division of Experimental Therapeutics and the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship at VP&S. In 2008, he received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second highest civilian award, “for his diverse and pioneering research and his efforts to improve the well-being of his fellow man.”
Gold medalists are nominated by alumni and selected by the Honors and Awards Committee, led by Jane Salmon ‘78.