Homer Smith: his contribution to the practice of nephrology.

A generation of renal physiologists and clinical nephrologists owe their expertise to the direct influence of Homer W. Smith. Working with him In his laboratory, conferring with him personally, or corresponding through the malls, young would-be scientists worldwide were molded by him into investigators. teachers, and practitioners of renal medicine. A remarkable feature of Smith’s great influence on others was his extraordinary accessibility, which was coupled with an enthusiasm for discussion of any and all problems dealing with the function of the kidney. Since his death in 1962, a succeeding generation has inherited this legacy from Smith’s original disciples, who continue to disseminate the clarity of thinking and explicit articulation of this dean of all renal physiologists. From the developmental and comparative physiology of the kidney, Smith went on to explore the fundamentals of mammalian renal function and ultimately human physiology and pathophysiology. His introduction of methodology for the precise measurement of renal function in humans lies at the basis of his many contributions to clinical medicine. In the 1930s, as Chairman of the Department of Physiology at New York University, he created a precedent for collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians that has been followed worldwide. Our daily thinking in terms of GFR, RBF, intrarenal resistances, tubular absorption and excretion, and body fluid homeostasis stems directly from his exposition of these fundamental concepts. An informed and logical approach to the many problems of renal dysfunction with which we must deal regularly would be inconceivable without Smith’s teaching, not the least of which is the language and mindset that we bring to the bedside. His rigorous approach to experimental design and analysis of data was implanted into physician physi-