In Memoriam: Deanna A. Sutton, Ph.D.

EDITORIAL

It is with deep sadness that we report the death of Deanna A. Sutton, PhD. Dr. Sutton passed away on 4 July 2017 and leaves behind a daughter, a son-in-law, and two granddaughters as well as numerous friends and colleagues. Deanna was a tremendous individual, both personally and professionally, and she will be greatly missed. Her passing leaves a large void in the field of medical mycology.

Dr. Sutton received her bachelor of science degree in medical technology from the University of Oregon Health Science Center in 1964. Her long and distinguished career in medical mycology began in 1987, when she moved to San Antonio, TX, to join Dr. Michael Rinaldi in the Fungus Testing Laboratory (FTL) in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she would remain for the rest of her career. Interestingly, Deanna submitted the first clinical sample received by the FTL (FTL 85-1) when the laboratory opened in January 1985. At the time, she was working at a reference laboratory in Portland, OR. Dr. Sutton advanced from the position of research associate to professor while also earning her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and serving as the administrative director of the FTL. Together with Dr. Rinaldi and Annette Fothergill, Dr. Sutton established the FTL as an internationally recognized mycology reference laboratory that has made significant contributions to the field of medical mycology through clinical laboratory services and research and in the training of numerous individuals from both the United States and countries across the world. Many of her students not only have gone on to become experts in their home countries but are also recognized as international leaders in the field of medical mycology.

Throughout her career, Dr. Sutton had a tremendous impact on the field of medical mycology through her scholarly activity and service to the profession. She was active in both the American Society for Microbiology and the International Society of Human and Animal Mycology, serving on the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy for many years and as an associate editor for Medical Mycology. She also served as a content editor for the website Dr. Fungus. One of her greatest joys was capturing images of fungi, and her work has been published in numerous articles, books, and commercial documents. Her scholarly activity was also exceptional, comprising publication of more than 300 peer-reviewed original articles and case reports, 24 book chapters, and several review articles. Dr. Sutton was also invited to give over 140 presentations and workshops at state, national, and international meetings related to her contributions to the field of medical mycology. Her accomplishments and service to the profession were recognized in 2008, when she received the Billy H. Cooper Award from the Medical Mycological Society of the Americans for outstanding contributions to the practice of diagnostic clinical mycology, and again in 2012, when she received the Maxwell L. Littman Award from the Medical Mycology Society of New York.

Dr. Sutton had unbridled enthusiasm for her work and was passionate about mycology. She thoroughly enjoyed looking through a microscope and discovering something new about fungi and then imparting this knowledge to others through individual instruction, workshops, and publications. Many individuals would come to her for training and with their questions about mycology. She was always willing to help others, both inside and outside the FTL, and many of these interactions led to the discovery of new species or the first reports of a particular fungal infection in humans and animals. Her collaborations were broad and included those with other mycologists, infectious disease clinicians and other physicians and health care professionals, and veterinarians. She was generous with her time, and those who worked with her recognized her professionalism and attention to detail and always gained something new and beneficial from these interactions. Her long-standing collaborators Josep Guarro and Josepa Gené at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain recognized her contributions by naming a new species of fungus in her honor (Acremoniopsis suttonii) (1).

Deanna was also passionate about her family, her church, and her gardening. Deanna's teaching activities were not confined solely within the scientific arena. One of her favorite activities was traveling, and she often traveled with her family. She especially enjoyed researching an area and then sharing interesting facts with her traveling companions. In addition to family travels, Deanna was instrumental in setting up pilgrimages for her church. Her excitement about such trips was infectious, and everyone benefited from her knowledge of the areas and their history. Finally, Deanna was an avid gardener. Her lot stood out in the community, and anyone coming across Deanna's home found the most meticulously maintained yard in her neighborhood. Her garden reflected her life, a dedication to something as close to perfection as was possible within her abilities. No endeavor in her life was ever made without meticulous attention to detail. She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.