Wayne Tsuji, MD, a clinical researcher at Amgen, who worked with Dr. Sharp closely in his last years, wrote, “John was very helpful in discussions over design for the denosumab RA trial and of the X-ray reading, a critical endpoint of the study. We met over multiple lunches in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island to discuss endpoints and exploratory analyses. John’s interest in measurement of combined cortical thickness and development of the measurement program resulted in an exploratory analysis which was presented at the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco. In the six weeks prior to his death, we worked to complete a manuscript reporting this analysis.”
Dr. Sharp was very interested in measurement of joint space width and developed a computer program which automated this measurement in digital images of hand radiographs. He took a course at the local community college to learn Java which he used to develop the program and which we plan to apply to the ERA and denosumab RA image sets, projects which hopefully will continue in his absence. Two weeks before his death, Dr. Sharp sent validating measurements for a revision of the joint measurement program and arranged collaboration with the Department of Computer Science at the University of Washington to continue following his death.
On several occasions within the past year, Dr. Sharp spoke of cutting back on his projects in rheumatology. He tried to limit his commitments to short-term projects and warned several collaborators that he did not know how long he would be able to continue working. He also spoke about getting involved in projects dealing with global and local environmental issues.
Dr. Sharp had a wide network of friends and collaborators in the United States and internationally. He continued professional commitments long after retirement from academic life with regular attendance at the annual meetings of the ACR and EULAR and with longstanding participation in OMERACT imaging efforts, including leadership of the Joint Measurement Special Interest Group. His kindness, patience, persistence, organization, dedication, and critical thinking will be missed by many.
Dr. Sharp is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 59 years, three sons—John, Tom, and Jeff—and seven grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and amazing father. He was loved and will be missed greatly.
Dr. Wolfe is a rheumatologist in Wichita, Kan. Dr. Strand is adjunct clinical professor of immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif.
