August 22, 2003

In memoriam: Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD

Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD, former chief of the MGH Dermatology Service, died Aug. 16 at home after a long illness. He was 83. Considered by many in the field as the "father of modern academic dermatology," he had served as chief from 1959 to 1987, and also served as the Wigglesworth Professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

According to John A. Parrish, MD, who succeeded Fitzpatrick, he trained many of today's top dermatologists in academia, industry and practice. For more than 50 years, he was a strong influence in basic and clinical research, much of which advanced the understanding of pigmentation, aging and disorders of the skin. He helped define the characteristics of early melanoma, a potentially fatal type of skin cancer, and advanced the cause of widespread screening to detect curable, treatable lesions. Fitzpatrick organized the scientific quantitative study of sunscreens and championed their widespread use.

Fitzpatrick and his colleagues invented "PUVA" photochemotherapy, originally a treatment for psoriasis that is now used worldwide to control a variety of disabling skin diseases such as vitiligo and lymphoma of the skin. He wrote and edited many scientific textbooks and articles about skin and skin disease, one of the most well known books is Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine.

Funeral services were held in private. Contributions may be made in his name to the Fitzpatrick Fund for Education, MGH Development Office, 100 Charles River Plaza, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114.