Reflections on the life and legacy of Christian Guilleminault, MD

He has left behind a lasting legacy with the thousands of students and trainees throughout the world who have tremendously benefitted from his mentorship. His tireless efforts as an educator, his monumental contributions to the scientific study of sleep, his seminal work in obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, and his leadership in international sleep organizations will not be forgotten. For those who closely worked with him, his perseverance and dedication to the field of sleep, scholarship, and trainees were inspiring; he would often be the first to arrive in our lab and the last to leave. His sharp wit and his jokingly omnipresent threat of death by “guillotine” for those who did not meet his high expectations for clinical care and scholarship were met with shared humor as well as an impetus to follow his example.

Clete Kushida, MD, PhD

Christian Guilleminault is a force of nature, a rare human being with the ability to influence so many lives on a personal level.  To the rest of the world, he is an icon in sleep medicine, but to me he was a father figure, and I was so fortunate to “grow up” in his backyard. He gave me wings to fly and then pushed me out into the world.  I owe my professional career to Christian, who perfected the definition of an ideal clinician and scientist. His intellectual pursuit of science was unmatched and unwavering. I will always cherish his “French” humor, generosity, and kindness. “No matter what happens in life, you must continue to move forward and keep moving,” and these are the words I will never forget as we learn to cope with the loss of an extraordinary human being.

Michelle Cao, DO

Tuesday the 9th of July was a very sad day…Stanford lost the soul of its Sleep Clinic: Christian Guilleminault, one of the founding fathers of sleep medicine, left us. He was a dedicated clinician, a father for his students, fellows, clinicians and researchers…but for me, Christian could be summarized in one word that says it all: he was my friend. I have known him for nearly 30 years. I admired his vivacity, his sense of humor. I will always remember our long discussions about our respective research projects, how we saw the future of sleep medicine. It was always so stimulating to be with Christian. I just cannot believe he will not be around anymore. Christian Guilleminault was a formidable human being who will be remembered for his tremendous accomplishments in sleep medicine. But for me, I will remember a dear friend, the big brother I never had. May you rest in peace Christian.

Maurice Ohayon, MD, DSC, PhD

As others have noted, Christian has been our North Star in sleep medicine.  His energy, dedication, and creativity have been guiding (at times pushing, pulling, and otherwise leaning into) the field for nearly half a century.  On many occasions, one  would have done well to set a compass in the direction of his ideas, and then as one of my colleagues once remarked, “wait 10 years for the rest of the field to catch up.”

Of all his illustrious accomplishments, I think of CG first as teacher, a role in which he was unsurpassed.  His devotion to training the next generation in sleep was complete.   As many of his hundreds of trainees will gladly recall, a welcome benefit to Friday afternoon didactics with CG was the pleasant selection of various refreshments of French vintage – a baguette, some cheese, …et cetera. Under such influences one felt free to discuss ideas and learn – he encouraged curiosity as a staple, not a luxury. And asking questions was fun! Christian had an exemplary command of the literature; some of our sleep fellows observed that they could “CG” a sleep medicine topic with a better yield than PubMed.

To us, he was a master clinician, mentor, colleague, and friend, who could at once disarm, inspire, and ignite. He had an element of Don Quixote, too, and he was fearless in his pursuit of the next discovery. Impressively, at the center of it all was his abiding devotion to taking care of patients. While sleep medicine benefitted extraordinarily from his attentions, CG also had an appetite for life broadly construed. Supreme raconteur, his sharp wit and warm humor never failed.

Even as I measure his loss, I regard with amazement his legacy. Among his lasting gifts is the indelible mark of his light carried by the thousands who had the privilege to know him and to have been reached by his work. May it never dim. (Photo from Stanford School of Medicine)

Shannon Sullivan, MD

I recall as a fellow when I started working with CG in 1993, that I was struck how he treated each patient with the interest and curiosity as if he was seeing sleep apnea for the first time. He had seen countless patients, but still never seemed to lose his fascination with sleep apnea or his interest in helping his patients. I don’t think he ever lost that curiosity. He loved seeing patients and teaching our fellows. For those of you who know him, you may smile knowing that his last words according to those that were with him were, “Open the wine.” (Photo from Stanford School of Medicine)

Rafael Pelayo, MD

Christian Guilleminault was a brilliant star whose pioneering efforts and radiance illuminated the field of sleep medicine. He was a dedicated researcher, a prolific writer, a consummate clinician, an inspiring mentor, and a fierce patient advocate. With his encyclopedic knowledge of sleep medicine and depth of clinical experience, combined with his verve and flair for teaching, CG imparted clinical pearls freely to trainees, colleagues, and staff. Despite his congeniality, CG would ferociously defend his junior authors on the conference floor when he perceived an unfair attack. This man who was a legend in sleep medicine remained humble and accessible, interacting freely with students, staff, colleagues, and patients at Stanford University. CG was the unsung hero, the binding glue of the Sleep Medicine Division, and the true heart of the Sleep Medicine Clinic at Stanford. His devotion, sincerity, and willingness to help colleagues in training and beyond led to the “CG Network” that spans the globe. He was a tour de force that inspired many sleep medicine practitioners.

He was an iconic figure to many. But for me, he was a favorite uncle figure who gave me excellent and practical career advice that led to my practicing sleep medicine on the peninsula. He was my ideal co-author who mastered collaboration without micro-management. Apart from the professional CG, I sorely miss my mentor and friend, the charming Renaissance man who could discuss the classics, dissect politics, and compare various countries and cultures. He was a gourmand who appreciated fine cuisine and wine. And he was also a consummate storyteller who described his experiences in the French army and his adventures in various countries, including shocking the protocol consultants by shaking the hand of the Japanese Emperor. These vignettes of CG are pale images compared to the essence of the man who gifted us with his being.

Vivien C. Abad, MD, MBA