Dr. Stuart Sherman

Dr. Stuart Sherman, 68, from Zionsville, Indiana passed away peacefully with his family, friends, and dogs by his side on the morning of Friday, June 9th 2023.

Stuart was born on February 21, 1955 in Queens, NY. After graduating from Benjamin Cardozo High School, Stuart attended SUNY Binghamton, graduating as valedictorian with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 1977. Dr. Sherman graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis in 1982. He then went on to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at the University Health Center, Hospitals of Pittsburgh in 1985 and research fellowship in 1986. From 1986 - 1989, Stuart attended UCLA for gastroenterology fellowship.

Dr. Sherman was recruited to Indiana University School of Medicine in 1990 for fellowship training in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy under the direction of Dr. Glen Lehman.

In 1992 Stuart returned to Indiana University and began a career as a specialist in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).  ERCP is used to manage diseases of the pancreas and biliary tract, and is considered the most sophisticated and high risk endoscopic procedure. In 1995 he was named Director of ERCP at IU. Under his direction and working in unison with Dr Lehman, the ERCP unit at IU was enlarged and became the highest volume unit in the US, recognized around the US for its prompt response to referrals and technical expertise. In 2001 Stuart was promoted to full Professor of Medicine and Radiology at IU, and in 2005 he was named Clinical Director of the IU Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology. In 2007 he became the first individual to hold the Glen A Lehman Professor of Gastroenterology chair. In 2021 IU School of Medicine endowed the Stuart Sherman Professorship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology to honor Dr Sherman’s career, with Dr Sherman’s mentee and colleague Evan Fogel as the first recipient.

In his practice at IU, Dr. Sherman was widely known for his tremendous technical expertise in ERCP, but also for his humility, his tireless energy and infectious enthusiasm for patient care, his intense preparation for ERCP procedures through detailed understanding of each patient’s medical history, his compassionate interaction with patients, and his respectful, immediate and detailed communication with referring physicians. He trained countless gastroenterology fellows, including more than 30 international fellows who came to IU to receive training in ERCP and now practice on 5 different continents. For his patient care he was named many times to the Best Doctors of America as well as Indianapolis Top Doctors list by Indianapolis Monthly. In 2011 he received the Riley Hospital “Red Shoes Award'' for his compassionate care of children at Riley who were taken to IU to undergo ERCP. In 2021 the ERCP unit at IU was named the Lehman, Sherman and Bucksot Endoscopy Unit.

Dr Sherman published more than 370 peer-reviewed scientific research papers, and his papers have been cited more than 32,000 times in the medical literature. He published more than 75 book chapters, and more than 600 invited papers and commentaries.  Stuart’s research was presented by him or his team at national and international meetings on more than 400 occasions. He was an outstanding lecturer and taught frequently on many aspects of ERCP at the national scientific meetings and post-graduate courses of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, and The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, as well as at international conferences.

Among his many awards, his contributions to endoscopic care and training were recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy with the ASGE Endoscopic  Mentoring Award in 2009 and the ASGE Master Endoscopist Award in 2021. In 2023 Dr Sherman received the Rudolf Schindler Award, the highest award granted by the ASGE.

Stuart’s greatest joy in life was supporting and loving his family–Matt, Ben, Leslie (also known as his “Lovely Les”) and his beloved pets. His life mantra was “Do Extra'' and he raised his sons with that same unwavering dedication. He loved being involved in anything Matt and Ben were a part of or passionate about. Stuart loved all sports but he was a dedicated Colts, Pacers, Hoosiers, and Depauw Tigers fan. He became a loyal women's lacrosse follower, especially the teams Leslie was coaching. He also enjoyed spending quality time with his  friends, working out at LA Fitness, traveling to new places, visiting the ATO fraternities at both IU and Depauw, watching Matt DJ, and cheering for Ben on the lacrosse field.

Stuart was preceded in death by his parents, Sol and Rhoda Sherman; and his mother-in-law, Jane Smith Derus. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Leslie Derus Sherman; sons, Matthew (Maya) and Benjamin Sherman; brother, Norman Sherman (Shelly Petnov-Sherman); father-in-law, Joseph Derus; sisters-in-law, Laura Derus and Amy Derus Rice (Steve); nephews, Micahel Sherman and Kevin Rice; and niece, Kristen Rice.

The Sherman family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the Simon Care Center staff, especially Dr. Nasser Hanna and the End Lung Cancer Now team. The IU Palliative care team was an invaluable source of support as the family navigated the last few months of Stuart’s life.  The Shermans are also extremely grateful for all of Stuart’s colleagues and friends in the IU Gastroenterology / Hepatology department.

Throughout his remarkable life, Stuart was known for his kindness, empathy, humor, enthusiasm, selflessness and compassion. He was an amazing husband, father, brother, son, physician and friend. His loss is felt now around the world. May his memory be a blessing.

A service celebrating Dr. Stuart Sherman’s life will be held Sunday August 20, 2023 from 1 - 4 PM at Hine Hall Atrium/Auditorium, 875 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Kindly RSVP at https://events.iu.edu/medicine/event/1041910-1

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Indiana University School of Medicine to support the Stuart Sherman Professorship in Gastroenterology.  Please make memorial gifts payable to “IU Foundation – Stuart Sherman Professorship in Gastroenterology” and mail to Indiana University School of Medicine, c/o IU Foundation, P.O. Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7072. Please indicate “In memory of Dr. Stuart Sherman” on your gift. Gifts can also be made online at https://go.iu.edu/sherman .

The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center for the End Lung Cancer Now initiative. Please make memorial gifts payable to IU Foundation/End Lung Cancer Now and include a note indicating the gift is in memory of Stuart Sherman. Mail to: IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, PO Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207. Give online at https://give.myiu.org/centers-institutes/I380015353.html