In Memoriam: Dr. Donald Mattison (1944-2026)

In Memoriam: Dr. Donald Mattison (1944-2026)

Dr. Donald Mattison passed away at his home in Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday, March 22, with his family present.

Don joined Risk Sciences International (RSI) in 2012 as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, following a distinguished career spanning government, academia, and clinical practice in the United States. During his time at RSI, he contributed to 47 scientific publications and served as a trusted mentor and colleague to many across the organization.

He began his career at the National Institutes of Health, where he conducted pioneering research. He went on to serve as a professor and clinician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, with a joint appointment at the National Center for Toxicological Research. He later became Dean of the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.

His leadership roles continued as Medical Director of the March of Dimes, followed by his service as Senior Advisor to the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Over more than two decades with the United States Public Health Service, Don responded to Hurricane Katrina and served aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy, ultimately retiring with the rank of Captain.

Following his retirement from NIH, Don continued to bridge science and practice. In addition to his leadership at RSI, he held academic affiliations as Associate Director of the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment and Adjunct Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa. He later served as Distinguished Professor of Health Sciences at the University of South Carolina from 2021 to 2023.

His research contributions spanned reproductive toxicology, pharmacology, adverse drug events, and sex and gender differences in health. Over the course of his career, he authored more than 400 scientific papers and edited or contributed to numerous books.

Don’s achievements were widely recognized. He was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected Foreign Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Even in retirement, Don remained deeply committed to service, volunteering as a physician in free clinics in Gaithersburg and Hilton Head. He was known for asking himself at the end of each day, “What have I done for others?”

He will be remembered for his kindness, intellectual generosity, and quick wit. A lifelong learner, he was a voracious reader and found joy in photography, tennis, cross-country skiing, and fly fishing.

“Don was not only a highly accomplished scientist who achieved international recognition for his work, he was also compassionate, well-liked, and deeply respected by all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with him,” said Daniel Krewski.

“Appreciated him dearly and will cherish all the wonderful times we had in Lyon. May his memory be a blessing,” said Cemil Alyanak.

“It was an honour and a real privilege to work with Dr. Mattison. He was not only a very knowledgeable physician, toxicologist, and dedicated scientist, but also a very kind person. I will always remember the warmth and light he brought to the office,” said Nataliya Karyakina.

“Dr. Mattison was a wonderful person. It was an honor and a pleasure working with him. I will always remember our engaging discussions on a wide range of subjects,” said Natasha Shilnikova.

“Dr. Mattison was a wonderful mentor who always made time to listen, advise, and encourage. I will always be grateful for his guidance,” said Abdallah Alami.

“His kindness and the way he connected with others left a lasting impression. He was a very supportive mentor and often shared his enthusiasm for books and ideas,” said Nawal Farhat.

“He generously shared his deep knowledge of pharmacoepidemiology and population health risk assessment. I will cherish our many conversations and greatly miss his wit, insight, and kindness,” said James Crispo.

“Don was a great mentor, a genuinely kind and relentlessly positive person. He helped shape the professional I am today,” said Siva Ramoju.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret; his son, Jon; his daughter, Amy; his sisters, Mary Mattison and Barbara Marks; his brother, Richard Mattison (Kathryn); and several nieces and nephews.

In accordance with Dr. Mattison’s wishes, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders or a charity of choice.

The family extends its deep gratitude to caregivers, Vitality Living, Avodah Home Care, and Three Oaks Hospice for their compassionate care.