The hematology world lost a force with the passing of Dr. Sherrill Slichter on August 13 at age 88. Many advancements in platelet transfusion would not be possible without Dr. Slichter’s 45 years of research at Bloodworks Northwest.
Dr. Slichter joined Bloodworks (then King County Central Blood Bank) in 1970; over four and a half decades, her platelet research changed the face of transfusion medicine around the world.
As a physician-scientist, Slichter followed her dreams with focus, independence, and passion — eventually honored by her peers in hematology for research discoveries that changed medicine as we know it.
She shared her journey in her autobiography, Path to Persistence. A review stated, “With her trademark intellect, insight, small town humility and humor, Dr. Slichter shared her pioneering adventures. Throughout her journey, her goal has been constant: ‘Making things better for the patient.’ Along the singular path of her persistence, Slichter made discoveries that have touched countless lives worldwide.”
Growing up in Wenatchee, WA, Dr. Slichter had an interest in science at a time where attitudes towards women’s abilities were much different than they are today.
“When I was in high school, I took math and physics and chemistry, and our class advisor was the biology teacher in high school and she was sure I was going to flunk out, so I had to take my class card home every semester and have my parents sign it.”
Dr. Slichter majored in math in at Washington State University but soon realized it wasn’t for her. As a second semester junior, she began taking pre-med classes and attended medical school at George Washington University as one of five women in a class of 100.
“On the first day of medical school, I was sitting in the lunch counter in a pharmacy across the street from the medical school when one of my fellow classmates, who I didn’t know because it was the first day, looked over to me and said, ‘Do you understand that you’re taking the place of somebody who could use this education? Raise a family.’
I guess I kind of survived by kind of saying, ‘I can do what you can do, regardless of my gender.'”
Dr. Slichter initially wanted to focus on patient care instead of research, but an experience with a woman with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease of the red blood cells that causes kidney failure, made her change her mind.
The patient, the wife of an army private, was dying of renal failure, but there was only one dialysis machine at the University of Washington hospital, and it was in use. The physician in charge refused to treat this patient because of (what Dr. Slichter suspected to be) discrimination, and the woman died.
“There was a professor in the division of hematology, a guy named Laurie Hartford — he was interested in clotting and bleeding disorders — so I went up to Laurie and I said, ‘are you doing any work on hemolytic uremic syndrome?’”
Dr. Slichter came to Bloodworks in 1970 to develop a coagulation laboratory, and her focus shifted to platelets.
“We didn’t have platelets as a separate transfusion product at [Bloodworks], so I started research studies trying to figure out how to, first of all, spin the blood to separate the blood into its components: platelets, plasma, red cells.
And then once we had platelets for transfusion, then we had to figure out how to store them, so I’m still working on improving methods and extending the storage time of platelets.
Once we had platelets for transfusion and had enough to give to people to prevent bleeding, used mainly in patients with leukemia who develop a low platelet count either because the leukemic cells have invaded the marrow to the point where there are no precursor cells for platelets or, alternatively, because they have been given high dose chemotherapy (which basically wipes out the marrow cells that produce the circulating blood cells.) When we wanted to transfuse a patient who had a low platelet count and was bleeding, we gave fresh whole blood, so I basically developed the methods to separate platelets from blood as a separate transfusion component, and we worked on how to store platelets.
Once we had platelets to give, patients started to develop antibodies against the donor platelets, so we’ve been working on methods to modify platelets prior to transfusion to prevent them from being recognized by patients and rejecting them.”
Dr. Slichter determined early on that platelets circulate longer when stored at room temperature rather than in the cold and must keep moving, for which we now use a special incubator, developed by her research.
A colleague noted, “The platelet storage machine is sort of like her: she doesn’t like to sit still.”
These advancements helped improve the prognosis for cancer patients and made bone marrow transplantation possible.
Though she initially extended the life of platelets from three to five to eventually seven days, her lab studies showed that platelets could live for 13 days, a foundation that Bloodworks researchers continue to build upon.
Much has changed from where Dr. Slichter started.
“There are more women medical students than men, so that’s all for good.”
And her commitment to advancing technology by investing in the next generation of researchers never wavered.
“We don’t just draw blood, store blood, and transfuse blood with established guidelines – we’re very interested in training young people.”
KIRO-FM Radio interviewed Dr. Slichter and Dr. Emily Herrera in 2018 in honor of International Women and Girls in Science Day. Dr. Slichter discussed defining moments in her education and shared ways parents can help young girls pursue a STEM career.
Sherrill Slichter’s legacy continues to inspire physicians and researchers around the world.
She is survived by her extended family, colleagues, and innumerable patients touched by her lifesaving work. Please join us in celebrating her vision, mentorship, and unyielding pursuit of scientific excellence.
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