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Professor Christopher David Marsden Fletcher, MD, FRCPath

Professor Christopher David Marsden Fletcher, MD, FRCPath

Professor Christopher David Marsden Fletcher, MD, FRCPath
(March 13, 1958 – July 26, 2024)

It is with deep regret that we communicate about the passing of Professor Chris Fletcher on July 26, 2024, in Boston, USA.

Chris graduated from St. Thomas’ Hospital Medical School in London, UK, where he also trained as a Histopathologist. It was during this time that he developed an interest in soft tissue tumours, which led to his research and a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of London. He later moved to Boston to work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University, where he made a significant impact over three decades. Upon retiring, he was named Emeritus Professor in 2023, having left an indelible mark on sarcoma diagnostic pathology.

In 1992, Chris published a groundbreaking paper that transformed the pathology field. By meticulously examining the morphological and ultrastructural features of soft tissue tumours and using the then-novel technique of immunohistochemistry in diagnostics, he demonstrated the need to rethink tumour classification. His research showed that tumours previously labelled as "pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma" encompassed a range of poorly differentiated neoplasms, which could be categorised according to cell lineage. He proposed replacing the term with "pleomorphic sarcoma," recognising the importance of accurate classification for clinical management. For the next 30 years, he continued to reclassify soft tissue tumours and describe new entities, relating them to clinical outcomes.

Chris gained worldwide recognition, attracting pathologists globally to train under his guidance, often waiting years for the opportunity. His referral practice was extensive, yet he provided rapid expert opinions internationally, generously supporting UK pathologists with challenging cases at no cost.

Chris’ leadership was evident through his roles over the past three decades, including Director of Surgical Pathology and Vice-Chair for Anatomic Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Chief of Onco-Pathology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Chair of the working group for multiple editions of the World Health Organisation's Classification of Soft Tissue and Bone Tumours (Blue Book) and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) counterpart. He also served as president of several prestigious organisations, such as the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology, the International Academy of Pathology, the Arthur Purdy Stout Society, the International Society of Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology, and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP). He was an esteemed member of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Over his career, Chris published more than 700 papers with an incredible H-index (Scopus) of 144. He also authored an award-winning pathology textbook (‘Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumors’). He was frequently invited to lecture and convey his knowledge worldwide.

For more information about his life and contributions, please visit his memorial page at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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