Dr. Schuster was an educator, researcher, and physician at Washington University for more than 25 years. He was renowned locally and nationally in the field of critical care medicine. His expertise was specially honored when he became the first recipient of the Virginia E. & Sam J. Golman Chair in Respiratory Intensive Care Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Dr. Schuster was born in South Bend, Indiana, and earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Michigan in 1972 and a medical degree from Yale University in 1976. After serving his internship and residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Dr. Schuster was named outstanding fellow in the Critical Care Medicine Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Dr. Schuster began his career at Washington University School of Medicine in 1981. He became a Professor in Medicine and Radiology in 1996, based on his pioneering research and international stature in lung imaging. His work in this field led to over 180 scholarly publications. Dr. Schuster was also an outstanding critical care physician, serving as Director of the Critical Care Program and being named to Best Doctors in America. He also cared deeply about faculty affairs, eventually being elected to Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council.
Dr. Schuster was an extremely innovative and creative thinker. He served as Associate Dean for Clinical Research for nine years. During this time, he initiated innovative programs that continue to have a major impact on the School of Medicine. His vision and development of a Center for Clinical Studies continues to allow faculty to conduct clinical trials and remains as an important component of our clinical research program. Dan also began a program for a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation that continues to be a central mechanism for the training of clinical investigators. He also developed and edited an outstanding new textbook, Translational and Experimental Clinical Research for further education in this area.
Dr. Schuster was a wonderful colleague and a very loyal member of the faculty of Washington University. His passing will leave a significant void in our academic community, and he will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues here and all over the world.
Dr. Schuster is survived by his wife, Debra; his mother, Alice Schuster of South Bend; a brother, David Schuster of Buffalo Grove, IL; and two sons, Jamie Aaron and Evan David.
Previous Schuster Memorial Lecturers
- 2023 Margaret S. Herridge, MD, MSc, University of Toronto
- 2022 Carolyn Calfee, MD, MAS, University of California, San Francisco
- 2020 Taylor Thompson, MD, Harvard University
- 2019 Gordon Rubenfeld, MD, MSc, University of Toronto
- 2018 Stephen S. Lefrak, MD, Washington University School of Medicine
- 2017 Wesely Ely, MD, MPH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- 2016 Arthur S. Slutsky, MD, University of Toronto
- 2015 Jesse Hall, MD, University of Chicago
- 2014 Neil R. MacIntyre, MD, Duke University
- 2013 Joseph E. Parillo, MD, Cooper University Hospital
- 2011 Derek C. Angus, MD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh
- 2010 Edward Abraham, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- 2009 Michael A. Matthay, MD, University of CA at San Francisco