Richard Eisenberg, PhD
(1942–2025)
Richard Eisenberg, PhD was a member of ASPET since 1979 and served on the Executive Committee for the Division of Pharmacology Education and the Substance Abuse Committee. Dr. Eisenberg received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from UCLA. Following his postdoctoral studies, he moved to Duluth, Minnesota in 1971 as a founding member of the new University of Minnesota Medical School at Duluth. He was promoted and in 1977 served as Acting Chair, and in 1980 became Chair of the Department of Pharmacology until his retirement in 2009.
Dr. Eisenberg studied the effects of the opioids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with an emphasis on drug dependence and tolerance. During this time, he not only actively pursued NIH-funded research, but also established Minnesota Medical Edu-ware, and developed the first computerized medical education software including MacPharmacology, MacBrain Lesion and MacMedVirology. Please read the full obituary written by Dr. Lynn Wecker.
Lynn Crespo, PhD (1958–2024)
Lynn Crespo, PhD was a member of ASPET since 2003, passed away on November 7, 2024, after a courageous battle of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Crespo was very active on the ASPET graduate education committee, and the ASPET medical education committee, both of which predated and led to the establishment of the ASPET Division for Pharmacology Education.
Dr. Crespo received her B.A. in Biology from Indiana University, and her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse NY, followed by post-doctoral studies in pharmacology at the University of Miami. She relocated to Nova Southeastern University where she was Chair of Pharmacology and devoted her efforts to developing medical education curricula and teaching.
In 2016, Dr. Crespo founded Athena Ed, LLC, a consulting company focused on medical curriculum development and medical school accreditation. Dr. Crespo’s passion was helping institutions achieve their mission through state-of-the art educational programs with an emphasis on active student-centered learning.
Dr. Crespo was characterized by colleagues as a trusted and respected leader and advisor, and a strong, smart and creative individual. She was a beloved colleague to many and will be missed, particularly in the medical education community. She is survived by her loving husband Carlos and their 2 sons, Daniel and Scott. Please read the full obituary written by Dr. Lynn Wecker.
David Mangelsdorf, PhD
(1958–2025)
David Mangelsdorf, PhD was a member of ASPET since 1997. He was an active participant on the Department Chairs Committee and a winner of the John J. Abel Award.
He earned dual BS degrees in biology and chemistry from Northern Arizona University and his PhD in biochemistry from Arizona University. In 1993, Dr. Mangelsdorf joined UT Southwestern (UTSW) and became Chair of Pharmacology in 2006. Over the course of 30 years at UTSW, his discoveries were instrumental in advancing the understanding of diabetes, obesity, cancer, alcohol intoxication, and parasitic infections. He was a visionary scientist who pioneered the once-obscure realm of orphan nuclear receptors (a class of proteins involved in gene regulation) and uncovered key cellular signaling pathways.
In 2002, David merged his laboratory at UTSW with his longtime friend and collaborator, Dr. Steven Kliewer. Together they continued to make landmark discoveries in nuclear receptor biology, profoundly advancing our understanding of metabolism and paving the way for far-reaching new treatments.
An Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dr. Mangelsdorf was also elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine—rare and distinguished honors that reflect his prolific impact on basic science and clinical applications such as drug development and treatment strategies. His publications remain among the most cited in the field of molecular pharmacology.