“Following his retirement, Paul continued to make outstanding contributions to vasculitis research as an emeritus professor, working particularly closely with colleagues in India,” said Professor Adams.
“Paul was indeed a remarkable man,” reflected Professor Rohini Handa, MD, senior consultant rheumatologist, Apollo Indraprastha Hospitals, New Delhi, India, and past president of the Indian Rheumatology Association. In an email, Dr. Handa elaborated, “Paul was constantly at it. He was a true friend of Indian rheumatology and Indian rheumatologists. The moving spirit behind our vasculitis group (IRAVAS), he would not take ‘no’ for an answer. With innumerable visits to India and countless emails, differences were sorted out, academic issues prioritized, posters presented and collaborations revitalized. Indian rheumatology cherishes his lasting legacy—the Indian Takayasu clinical activity score (ITAS).”
“How to describe him?” mused Loïc Guillevin, MD, MACR, and emeritus professor of medicine at the Hôpital Cochin at the Université Paris Descartes, France, when asked about his colleague and friend. “He was, certainly, an inspiration when it came to the field of vasculitis.” Dr. Guillevin noted that Dr. Bacon is, in his mind, “the father of the BVAS [Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score],” developed in collaboration with Raashid Luqmani, MD, professor of rheumatology at the University of Oxford, and other colleagues. “It was really his idea to have some criteria to follow patients and evaluate them over time.”
Dr. Guillevin shared Dr. Bacon’s interests and invited him to present at the Université Paris Descartes. “In a meeting,” Dr. Guillevin recalled, “he was a fantastic chairman, because he was able to stimulate discussion. Of course, he was a leader in the field of vasculitis. But not only that, he needed to stimulate questions to foster clinical researchers, and he really was very good [at that].”
He was also known for his mentorship, Professor Adams added. “In addition to his major research contributions in the area of immunology and vasculitis, Paul was a remarkable mentor, having trained most of the UK’s professors of rheumatology by the time of his retirement in 2003.
“Many of us owe Paul a huge debt. His successors to the ARUK chair of rheumatology, Professors Chris Buckley and Karim Raza, are organizing a memorial service for Paul later in the year where we can show our appreciation of his remarkable contributions to the University.”
Gretchen Henkel is a health and medical journalist based in California.
