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Samuel MacDonald McCann
September 8, 1925 - March 16, 2007
 Samuel
MacDonald McCann was born in Houston, Texas, USA, on September 8, 1925, the
only child of parents dedicated to university life... He received his basic
education at Rice University, Houston. However, his interest in science
developed during high school at Culver Military Academy. He obtained his MD
at the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1948 in only
three years, always as one of the best students in the course. During this
period he published two papers in the American Journal of Physiology
demonstrating the role of stress and of adrenocortical hormones in
triggering hypertension. He did his internship and Medical residency at
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, where he conducted studies on the
artificial kidney. Two years later he returned to the University of
Pennsylvania as a Physiology Instructor and then served in the American
Armed forces at Walter Reed Hospital (Army Medical Corps), where he
continued his studies on stress and on the control of vasopressin secretion.
In the Department of Physiology of the University of Pennsylvania he started
his pioneering studies on Neuroendocrinology, demonstrating the existence of
neuropeptides secreted by the hypothalamus and responsible for the control
of adenohypophyseal functions. He was the first to demonstrate the role of
vasopressin in the control of ACTH secretion, the biological existence of LH
releasing factor (LHRF) in the basal middle hypothalamus, and of FSHRF, GHRF
and GHIF, the last known as somatostatin. At the University of Pennsylvania
he held all the academic positions from Instructor to Full Professor of
Physiology in 1964. In 1965 he was invited to be Chairman of the Department
of Physiology of Tulane University, New Orleans, and of the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas. He chose the University of Texas,
where he built one of the best Neuroendocrinology nuclei in the country. At
that time, one of us (JAR) had the privilege of accompanying him from
Philadelphia to Dallas, where he remained for two years working under his
supervision in order to isolate biologically and to purify the hypothalamic
factors that control the functions of the adenohypophysis.
The scientific career of
Dr. McCann was very productive: he published more than 700 full papers and
many chapters in books, acting as editor of several other books. These data
represent the profile of a born researcher, very dynamic and with privileged
intellectual capacity. Throughout his life he received many prizes, honors
and medals. In 1987 he was elected a member of the National Academy
of Sciences of the United States and of the American Academy of Arts and
Science, one of the positions most sought after by American and world
scientists.
He had a special gift
regarding the stimulation and training of young investigators. Many of those
he trained greatly progressed in their countries of origin, thus multiplying
his ability to train human resources. To the young people who worked at his
side he transmitted security and confidence regarding free thinking,
scientific independence and autonomous activity. One of his main
characteristics was to stimulate the scientific development of each
disciple, respecting his individuality. He molded students, not in his own
likeness, but by encouraging them to develop their own scientific abilities.
He trained people and not tools for his own work. Many investigators from
all over the world passed through his laboratory.
At 70 years of age he was
honored by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State
University Baton Rouge, which conferred to him the Endowed Chair title.
Dr. McCann belonged to
many scientific societies and was a member of the Council of the American
Physiological Society and Endocrine Society. In addition, he was a member of
the National Academy of Science of the United States and an honorary member
of various international scientific societies, among them Sociedade
Brasileira de Fisiologia (Brazilian Physiology Society). He was the
President of the International Neuroendocrine Federation, of the Society for
Experimental Biology and Medicine, of the International Society of
Neuroendocrinology, and of the International Society of
Neuroimmunomodulation. He was also Editor-in-Chief of Neuroendocrinology.
Until his last days, Prof.
McCann accompanied the scientific evolution of Brazilian groups and the
increasing body of scientific knowledge of the Brazilian society, providing
guidance to the young with precise attitudes and opinions inducing the
humanistic training complementary to modern scientific qualification. He
used to say that “in science there is no substitute for the brain”. The
brain implies intelligence and the heart, charity.
He was a pioneer. He
delighted in opening new research lines, “opening roads”. His intellectual
ability was impressive, as confirmed by his publications.
Prof. McCann died on March
16, 2007. The feeling of loss of a Teacher and friend is very painful, but
we must look back at all those times of pleasure, camaraderie and mutual
cooperation that we experienced together. It was all worth it! We are sure
that he did all he could for Physiology and especially for
Neuroendocrinology. Now he rests in peace. Last year, during the closing
ceremony of the International Symposium of Neuroendocrinology held in
Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil (September 1-3, 2006) we asked the participants
to applaud Dr. McCann for all he represented for Neuroendocrine Physiology.
After the ovation, he addressed Dr. Antunes and said: “José, this is one of
the happiest moments of my life!”
The Teacher is gone, but
he leaves behind that exemplary flame that will light up the path for many
young people dedicated to science. Prof. McCann will always be remembered as
one of the pioneers in contemporary Neuroendocrinology and as a human being
of invaluable worth. His wisdom, culture and humanistic vision of science
made of him a model to be followed by all of us. He built a fundamental
opus, of those that mark a time, define paths and serve as an example.
To him our everlasting
gratitude.
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