Honoring Robert Salata, a distinguished infectious disease expert
Robert Salata, MD, FACP, FIDSAH was the John H. Hord Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and the Physician-in-Chief, Distinguished Physician, and Senior Attending Physician at UH Cleveland Medical Center.
He served as the Director of the UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine and Global Health and as the STERIS Chair of Excellence in Medicine at UH.
He dedicated 40 years to University Hospitals of Cleveland, becoming an internationally recognized expert in Infectious Diseases and Global Health, eventually serving as the Chair of Medicine.
Dr. Salata played a key role in establishing UH’s Travel Medicine Program and fostering its partnership with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Mulago Hospital in Uganda.
His renowned research in infectious disease was one of the reasons UH became first site for the Remdesivir clinical trial, one of the first treatments for COVID-19, and subsequently the Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, where he led that clinical trial.
Robert Salata passed away peacefully on Monday, August 26, 2024, at the age of 72.
Doctors and healthcare organisations all over the world shared their condolences:
“The CWRU community is mourning the loss of Dr. Robert Salata, who is remembered as a committed leader, mentor and deeply caring physician.”
“It is with a heavy heart that I convey news of the death of Robert Salata, whose brilliance was surpassed only by his kindness. His impact on University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve is immense. We will remember his wisdom, compassion and tenacious commitment to his patients and global populations.”
“In shock-My mentor, friend. He recruited me and met frequently. We had so many plans for projects He asked about my family daily- The world lost as Dr Salata was an amazing human to this planet-In God’s hands you are.”
“Dr. Robert Salata taught his residents a work ethic that inspired each one of us to go the extra mile for every patient because it matters. He had a way about him that made learning even while exhausted from long training hours memorable and motivating.”
Makerere University Lung Institute:
“Deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Robert A. Salata. His transformative work with the Lung Cancer and HIV working group at the Institute leaves a lasting legacy. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues.”
“The CWRU School of Medicine, University Hospitals family is shocked and in mourning at the news that our chair of medicine Dr. Robert Salata passed away suddenl. To state that Dr. Salata was a giant of medicine would be an understatement.May his memory be a blessing to all of us.”
“The first time I led an M and M discussion for the DOIM as a fellow he came up and thanked me personally. Thoughts are with his family.”