Stephen Anderson Harrison, M.D.

Dr. Stephen Anderson Harrison, Col. US Army (Ret.), beloved husband, father, friend and patriot, and trusted mentor, physician and medical researcher, passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 55.

Stephen was born January 7, 1969 in Memphis, Tennessee, and is survived by his wife Renee, son Taylor, daughter Anna-Lauren, parents Lester and Joanne Harrison as well as his brothers Ken (Missy) and James (Amy), sister Beth Hood (Bryan) and multiple nieces and nephews.

Stephen was a larger-than-life physician known for his good humor, in-depth research, and dedication to patients. He made a lasting impression on all those he encountered. His sense of optimism was contagious , as was his desire to help others. He enjoyed conversation and sharing a laugh and brought his relentless energy into everything he did. He was a devoted family man, which included his beloved dogs Grace and Henley. He loved planning activities that brought the family together – from memorable vacations in Hawaii, Europe, and other parts of the world, to building a lake house that became the family’s refuge and his favorite place in the world . He was an avid fan of the football team at his alma mater, Ole Miss, and enthusiastically supported Texas A&M and SMU, where his children Taylor and Anna-Lauren both attended.

Stephen’s generosity extended beyond his family to include the church, San Antonio community, members of the military and their families, and the international clinical circles where he made his most profound professional impact.

During an illustrious 30-year career, Stephen pioneered the field of liver research, working tirelessly in pursuit of new treatment options and cures for diseases including hepatitis and fatty liver disease. He was Co-Founder and Chairman of Summit Clinical Research, LLC, and the Founder and Chairman of Pinnacle Clinical Research in San Antonio, Texas. He was also visiting Professor of Hepatology at the Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.

Stephen revolutionized the understanding of liver disease through prolific work that made him one of the world’s most cited researchers. He authored more than 350 peer-reviewed articles, receiving more than 50,000 citations and achieving an H-Index of 106. He played an instrumental role in the development of the first FDA-approved drug to treat Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) / Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).

Dr. Harrison hatched plans for creating Summit Clinical Research with his co-founder Gail Hinkson on the back of a napkin at a local restaurant. That successful venture has helped revolutionize the way that pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical trials for complex liver diseases by recruiting a world-class team of clinically driven researchers to Summit and leveraging the scientific collaboration of world-renowned academic experts. That team continues to accelerate progress on MASH / MASLD clinical research with the continued help from luminaries in the field.

Stephen’s success as an entrepreneur came after he retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army in 2016, following a distinguished military medical career. His more than two decades of service to the United States included posts as Director of Graduate Medical Education at Brooke Army Medical Center, Associate Dean for the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium and Gastroenterology Consultant to the Army Surgeon General.

Dr. Harrison earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, after which he completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center and a fourth-year advanced liver disease fellowship at Saint Louis University. Dr. Harrison was board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Community Bible Church.

FUNERAL SERVICEWEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 20241:00 PMCOMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH2477 N. LOOP 1604 E.

Pastor Ed Newton will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Bible Church (https://www.communitybible.com/give), The San Antonio Hope Center (https://www.hopecenterministries.com/), or Vetmap (www.vetmap.us).