Dr. Philip E. Cryer

Dr Philip E. Cryer, Emeritus Professor and former Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine died February 24, 2024 at the age of 84.

Dr Cryer grew up in El Paso, Illinois and received his bachelors and medical degrees at Northwestern University where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He did his internal medicine residency at Barnes Hospital, followed by a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Barnes Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Following his fellowship, he did two years of research training at the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Cryer then returned to Barnes Hospital as Chief Resident and joined the faculty at Washington University in 1971. As a distinguished researcher, clinician and teacher, he led the Washington University General Clinical Research Center from 1973 to 2006. He became Professor of Medicine in 1981 and was the Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism from 1985-2002. Dr. Cryer served as the Irene E. and Michael M. Karl Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism from 1985 until he retired in 2014.

Dr. Clay Semenkovich remarked that “Dr. Philip Cryer, was an accomplished clinical endocrinologist and teacher, who devoted his career to patient-oriented research and was known internationally for defining the mechanisms that correct hypoglycemia in humans. His many contributions included the discovery of hypoglycemia unawareness, a life-threatening disorder that occurs in many forms of diabetes, and his development of therapeutic approaches for this condition decreased the suffering of countless people with diabetes.” Dr Cryer developed a sensitive method for the measurement of epinephrine and studied the sympathoadrenal system extensively. With Jack Gerich he discovered the physiology of glucose counter-regulation, the mechanisms that normally prevent or rapidly correct hypoglycemia. He then studied its pathophysiology leading to identification and prevention of hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. The latter studies culminated in his novel concept of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in diabetes and his international leadership in the field.

Dr. Cryer’s research was recognized by his membership in the American Society for Clinical Investigation (which he served as vice president) and the Association of American Physicians and by his receipt of the Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement of the American Diabetes Association, the Claude Bernard Medal of the European Society for the Study of Diabetes and an honorary doctorate from the University of Copenhagen. He held NIH R01 research support for three decades, the last as a MERIT Award, and he served on the NIH Metabolism Study Section. Dr. Cryer is the only person since the founding of the ADA in 1940 to receive its Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement, serve as editor-in-chief of its prestigious journal Diabetes and be elected its President. At the time of his retirement, he was honored by the decision of the William and Elaine Wolff family to endow the Philip E. and Carolyn E. Cryer Professor of Medicine at Washington University. Dr. Cryer received the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Medical Staff Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Dr. Cryer consistently acknowledged his research sponsors, mentors, collaborators, technicians, research nurses and colleagues, and particularly the 42 postdoctoral fellows who did the bulk of the work and made it better.

Dr. Cryer was the father of Philip C. Cryer and Justine L. Cryer Dugan (Thomas) and step-father of Anthony Havlin, Krista V. Havlin, (Marshall Feeney) and Rebecca Havlin Eberhart; grandfather of Kacy E. Cryer, Benjamin P. Cryer, Matthew P. Dugan, and Emma I. Dugan; step-grandfather of Mollie B. Morton (Michael) and Max Havlin Eberhart; and step-great-grandfather of Liam M. Morton.

Memorial services and visitation will be held Sunday, March 17 from 2-6 pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary 6464 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109.

Contributions in Dr Cryer’s memory may be made to the Endocrinology Division in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine.

Please keep Dr Cryer’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.