E. Donnall Thomas

Dr. Edward Donnall (Don) Thomas (b. March 15, 1920) is an American physician, professor emeritus at the University of Washington, and director emeritus of the clinical research division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In 1990 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Joseph E. Murray for the development of cell and organ transplantation. Thomas developed bone marrow transplantation as a treatment for leukemia.

However, there is enormous controversy about who did the world's first 'successful' bone marrow transplant {in general}. Some people credit Robert Good with the world's first 'successful' bone marrow transplant at The University of Minnesota. Since Thomas's bone marrow transplant didn't prevent the recipients death later on history seems to be on the side of Good. Robert Good's controversial career particularly the Summerlin scandal at Sloan Kettering played a part in his being excluded from the 1990 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Thomas attended the University of Texas at Austin, he studied chemistry and chemical engineering, graduating with a B.A. in 1941 and an M. A. in 1943. While Thomas was an undergraduate he met his wife, Dorothy (Dottie) Martin while she was training to be journalist. They had three children. Thomas entered Harvard Medical School in 1943, receiving a M.D. in 1946. Dottie became a lab technician during this time to support the family, the pair have worked closely ever since.

Thomas also received National Medal of Science in 1990.