Meir Wetzler, MD

Meir Wetzler, MD, died on February 23, 2015 at the age of 60 years after sustaining ski injuries in Colorado on February 7, 2015. Many of us realize that the world has lost a special person who was a devoted physician, a leader in the leukemia field, and a wonderful colleague. Dr. Wetzler was professor of medicine and chief of the Leukemia Section at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York. Dr. Wetzler moved to Roswell Park in the 1990s and rose through the ranks. He was a highly committed and compassionate physician who helped set the standards for leukemia care. He published over 200 articles in his field, with a focus on cytokines, immunotherapy, and the BCR gene in leukemia. Dr. Wetzler was also an accomplished athlete, and was skilled at snowboarding, skiing, and running. He participated in Ironman triathlons, and was considered more fit than many half his age. Born in Israel, Dr. Wetzler earned his medical degree from The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem and completed his internal medicine training at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. He completed training in medical oncology with an emphasis on biological therapy at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Razelle Kurzrock, MD, now Senior Deputy Center Director at the University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center, remembers him well from his time at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “He was a very dedicated investigator. While he was with us, he published several very important papers, including a study in PNAS [Proceedings of the National Figure 1. Dr. Meir Wetzler. Photo Courtesy of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.