Dr. Avedis Donabedian was widely recognized for his structure-process-outcome formulation for quality assessment activities. This model has set the framework for most contemporary quality measurement and improvement activities. His professional work focused on the systemization of knowledge throughout health care organizations, especially with respect to quality assessment and monitoring. His contributions include six books and many other publications. Dr. Donabedian was a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American College of Utilization Review Physicians. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, and raised in a small town north of Jerusalem, Dr. Donabedian received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut. Following many years of work in Jerusalem and Beirut, Dr. Donabedian received his master's degree in public health from Harvard School of Public Health. He was the Nathan Sinai Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.