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Frank Gotch, father of kinetic modeling, dies at 91
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Pioneering nephrologist Frank A. Gotch, who used kinetic modeling to formulize the Kt/V measure for dialysis, died Feb. 28. He was 91.
Gotch, born in Humboldt, Iowa, was known for his work in developing a quantitative approach to hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Kt/V became a standard measure of dialysis adequacy. He also participated in the early work development of the hollow fiber dialyzer.
Gotch chaired the National Institutes of Health Evaluation Study Group which set standards for dialyzer performance in 1972, and the National NIH Conference on Adequacy of Hemodialysis in 1975. He served on the planning committee and as kinetic consultant to the National Cooperative Dialysis Study, and served on the Steering Committee of the HEMO study, and was Co-Principal Investigator of the Cooperative Study of Randomized Peritoneal Dialysis Prescriptions and Clinical Outcome. He had over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Gotch can be considered as the “father of modern dialysis kinetic modeling” and responsible for the development of the Fresenius On-Line Clearance Monitor and of the Access Flow methodology.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah, son Jeremy, granddaughters Rachel and Zoe, niece and nephew Jane and Marty, adopted son Roy, and loving extended family. -by Mark Neumann