The Countway mourns the passing of Paul Russell (1925-2026), one of its most dedicated supporters, and a legendary figure at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School for well over six decades.
Dr. Russell received his BS in chemistry, his MD in medicine, and his PhD in philosophy from the University of Chicago, and then completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). After serving in the U.S. Air Force and working with Nobelist Peter Medawar on transplantation, Dr. Russell would become chief of surgery at MGH, where he would perform its first kidney transplant (in 1963) and found its transplantation unit. He would likewise (among many significant actions) found the Boston Interhospital Organ Bank, and play a key role in the development of the Shriners Burn Institute.
Having believed (and stated) that the “Countway is a real jewel in the crown of Harvard,” Dr. Russell likewise offered support and wise counsel to the Countway for decades. He served as both member and Chair of the Joint Library Committee, and then played a crucial role in the Countway’s renovation in the late 1990s. Judith Messerle, Director of the Countway at the time, described Dr. Russell as a “wonderful guide” and “visionary.” In honor of such support and wisdom, the Countway was proud to unveil the Russell Reading Room, where generations of students and researchers have now benefitted from his generosity