Saul M Schanberg, MD, an internationally renowned Duke neuroscientist and physician, died on 15 May 2009 at his Durham home after a long fight with cancer. Saul was a Life Fellow Emeritus of American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). He was active in ACNP, serving on several committees and Council. Saul is globally recognized for his groundbreaking research on the importance of touch in normal growth and development, finding that specific types of touch led to better health and shorter hospital stays for premature infants. His discoveries changed the way hospitals and clinics all over the world care for premature infants. He later extended this research to other populations, including adolescents suffering from mental disorders, depressed pregnant women, and women battling breast cancer. For his work, Schanberg received numerous prestigious awards and honors, and he has authored more than 200 publications. Saul was also a distinguished educator who trained many neuroscientists, graduate, and medical students during his 31-year career at Duke. Schanberg also taught a key part of the first year medical pharmacology course for his entire career and directed the course for a decade. He served as Associate Dean for curriculum at the School of Medicine for 6 years.

Saul completed bachelor's and master's degrees at the Clark University and PhD in pharmacology and medical degree at the Yale University. After an internship in pediatrics at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, he worked for 2 years as a research associate in pharmacology and toxicology at the National Institute of Mental Health with Irwin Kopin. In 1967, he joined the Duke faculty as Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Neurology, later becoming Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, the position he held until retiring in November 2008. He was the Assistant Director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Program for several years and held a Career Scientist Award from the National Institute of Mental Health for much of his career. He served as chair of the Department of Pharmacology from 1988 to 1991. Schanberg is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Rachel Schanberg, retired founder and director of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program, which was started in memory of his deceased daughter, Linda Schanberg Clark; and his daughter Laura Schanberg, MD, associate professor and co-chief of the Duke Division of Pediatric Rheumatology; two grandchildren; and a sister.