In Memoriam, Dr. Stephen Harrison

Stephen was a force of nature in the realm of Steatotic liver disease.

He championed the invaluable contributions of nurses and allied health professionals, both in the field and personally on our podcast.

Engaging in lively discussions, he was a delightful sparring partner, making our Surfing the Nash experiences enjoyable.

It was a privilege to know Stephen; each week was brightened by his heartfelt stories of his love for his wife and children, and their accomplishments. My thoughts are with them during this time.

Stephen harbored dreams of improving the lives of patients with SLD, and although we mourn his loss, we celebrate his achievement of that dream.

Stephen was a one-off, and one of the most remarkable people I have ever known.

He painted pictures with words. He had a unique ability to create clear images that hit the bullseye with just a phrase. When he stepped back as co-host of Tsunami, we devoted part of an episode to our favorite “Harrisonisms,” word memes that told clear stories. “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” My favorite this week: “Thanks goodness they didn’t stop after WD-39.”

His eye missed virtually nothing…he would comment when a podcast guest was recording from a different part of her home that he had never seen that room before. His sand castle structures showed a visual sense and attention to detail that was simply jaw-dropping.

He assimilated knowledge voraciously. He questioned unexpected results and attacked unresolved questions with energy and passion, all in pursuit of leaving his “big, fat dent in MASLD.”

Finally, he empowered so many people in all walks of his life. If you knew and worked with him, you probably have your own story to tell. His legacy, both professional and personal, speaks to his impact on all the people he touched.

There’s a huge hole in the world this week, but as time goes passes, the people he touched will use the lessons he taught and the visions he created to do unimaginably great things.

A trailblazer–a kind and gracious soul. For Stephen, no challenge was too big and no task was too small. His passion and drive to do great things for the field and for our patients was immense and infectious–he made things happen. Yet, through it all, he found time to be a colleague, friend, father, husband, doctor, leader, researcher and entrepreneur. Beneath his business attire, was a real “Superman”. Stephen, my friend, I will miss you dearly.

Thanks for this tribute. We are all having a tough time processing this.

Stephen played a key part in our continuing efforts to develop a new class of insulin sensitizers. I will really miss being able to kick around new ideas with him. I really appreciate the openness that he brought to every occasion.

One example was the last MOSAIC conference when he called an “audible “ and ask me to come to the stage to present some our thoughts. This led to other conversations and our last paper together.

Thanks Stephen. We will process what we learned and carry on.