David Tapper, professor of surgery and pediatrics and surgeon-in-chief at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center for the past 18 years, died in his home Tuesday, July 23 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 57 years old.
Tapper received his medical degree magna cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He joined Children's Hospital in 1983 as its first surgeon-in-chief. At Children's and the UW he served as a teacher and mentor for young surgeons and personally trained 16 pediatric surgeons. His interest in kidney diseases led to an international reputation for the surgical treatment of kidney failure and high blood pressure. Tapper started the kidney transplant program at Children's and performed more than 50 successful transplants himself. He was honored last year with the creation of the David Tapper Endowed Lectureship in Pediatric Surgery.
Tapper recently concluded his presidency of the American Pediatric Surgical Association. He served as a leader in many local, regional and national organizations, including as president of the Seattle Surgical Society, and councilor of the Washington, Alaska and British Columbia Caucus of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association
Tapper is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susan, and their four children, JoEllen, Erica, Jacalyn and Aaron. Services were held Thursday at the Herzl-Ner Tamid Synagogue on Mercer Island in Seattle.
July 26, 2002