ST. LOUIS — A ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University Hospital physician who brought attention to liver disease research and rose to the top of his field died last week in Florida at age 75.
Born in Amherst, Ohio, Dr. Bruce Raymond Bacon came to SLU in 1990 and served as the director of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology.
He helped launch the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University Liver Center in 1994, which became internationally renowned for its patient care and research.
Bacon retired in 2020 and moved to Florida with his wife, Sarah Jacobsmeyer Bacon.
Bacon’s many patients included Naomi Judd, who in 1998 said Bacon cured her of the hepatitis C virus.
“This is my new duet partner,†she said at a news conference at ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University Hospital, .
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Dr. Brent Neuschwander-Tetri, a longtime colleague of Bacon’s at SLU, said Bacon was “right at the heart†of a lot of research into the treatment of hepatitis C.
“He was recognized around the world as an expert†on the treatment of the virus, Neuschwander-Tetri said.
Another way Bacon put ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University on the map, his former colleague said, was in understanding the genetic causes of hemochromatosis, a disorder where iron accumulates in the body and damages the liver, heart and other organs.
It was “his work with his patients that led to the discovery of the gene for that disease,†Neuschwander-Tetri said.
Doctors now use the gene to diagnose the disease, said Dr. Grace Su, president of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
And that’s important, Su said. If doctors find the gene in a patient, they can treat it, get rid of the iron accumulating in the liver and make sure the patient doesn’t get liver disease.
Dr. Ravi Nayak, chair of internal medicine for SLU, remembered Bacon as a master physician who earned international recognition for his work.
“He cared for countless patients at (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University Hospital), earning their trust and gratitude with his expertise and kindness,†Nayak said in a memoriam to colleagues and friends.
Leisa Duff, executive director of the Friends of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University Liver Center, said there wasn’t much funding being brought back to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University for liver disease research in the early 2000s.
She said Bacon wanted this to change and helped organize the center.
The first benefit gala took place in 2003. As part of the celebration, Willie Nelson performed at the Pageant. Julia Spears, married to Nelson’s bassist, had been treated at the SLU Liver Center, the University News .
Outside of SLU, Bacon also served as president of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. He also served on the board of the directors for the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation.
He is survived by his partner and wife of 25 years, Sarah Jacobsmeyer Bacon; and children Jeff Bacon and Laurie Skrivan, according to .
It said that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ University Liver Center.
A celebration of life for Bacon is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Hilton ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Frontenac, 1335 S. Lindbergh Boulevard.
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