Richard E. Blackwell, MD, PhD, died at the age of 81 on December 9, 2024. A longtime resident of Birmingham and a devoted husband and father, he passed away at his home from heart disease and complications following a fall in late August. One of his fellows recently wrote, “It is ironic you have heart disease because you have one of the biggest hearts I ever had the pleasure of knowing.” Born on August 4, 1943, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Blackwell devoted his life to patient care, scientific inquiry, and mentorship.

He completed his bachelor’s degree at Jacksonville University, his master’s at the University of South Florida, and his PhD at Baylor College of Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Roger Guillemin, who would later receive a Nobel Prize in Medicine. Dr. Blackwell’s doctoral studies earned him prestigious fellowships from the U.S. Public Service and the Ford Foundation. He continued his research as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Guillemin at the Salk Institute. Motivated to care for patients directly, Dr. Blackwell returned to Baylor to complete his medical degree.

In 1975, Dr. Blackwell came to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Building on his interest in endocrinology, he completed a fellowship in Reproductive Medicine under J. Benjamin Younger Sr., forging a lifelong friendship. Board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and holding special competence in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, he served on the faculties of Baylor College of Medicine and UAB in the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery. Dr. Blackwell became the second member of UAB’s Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), which rose to national prominence for its expertise and leadership in women’s reproductive care.

Over his prolific career, Dr. Blackwell delivered more than 300 invited lectures nationally and internationally and published over 90 peer-reviewed articles, 66 abstracts, 67 book chapters, and eight books. Named a full professor in 1987, he later served as Director of the Division of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. He was a Fellow of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, the Endocrine Society, the American Physiological Society, and the Society for the Study of Reproduction. In addition, he served on study sections for the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and was a member of the board of directors for Complete Health. He contributed to numerous pharmaceutical advisory boards, received 42 grants and contracts, and played a principal role in developing eight pharmaceutical products and bioappliances.

Dr. Blackwell was a dedicated mentor to residents, fellows, and junior faculty, and provided compassionate care to multiple generations of patients. He was a steadfast advocate for women’s health and reproductive care, defending infertile patients who are often financially and emotionally vulnerable. After retiring from UAB as Emeritus Professor in 2013, he continued to see patients through the Health Services Foundation until 2020, concluding 46 years of service. Even after his departure from the University, many colleagues and former patients continued to seek his counsel.

Beyond his medical career, Dr. Blackwell was an avid reader and collector of historical medical texts, a keen hunter and fisherman, and a proud forest landowner. He spent many weekends at his farm in Butler County, learning about timber management, pruning fruit trees, and operating tractors.

Dr. Blackwell was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Mildred Blackwell. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kathryn Blackwell; his daughter, Beth Blackwell; his son-in-law, Matt Grcic; his grandson, Oliver Burns Blackwell; and his former wife, Elizabeth Blackwell, all of Birmingham.