Dr. Christopher Fletcher was a world-renowned surgical pathologist and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, whose expertise revolutionized the field of tumor classification. He served as Senior Pathologist and Vice Chair of Anatomic Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital for nearly three decades after being recruited from the University of London in 1995 by Dr. Ramzi Cotran, then Chair of Pathology. Concurrently, he held the position of Chief of Onco-Pathology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 2000 until his retirement to Professor Emeritus status in 2023. Born in 1958, Dr. Fletcher earned his medical degree from the University of London and completed his postdoctoral training at the Royal College of Pathologists, graduating in 1988. His early career at St. Thomas' Hospital in London provided the foundation for his expertise in musculoskeletal malignancies that would define his professional legacy.
Dr. Fletcher authored nearly 600 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 150 books, book chapters, and review articles, establishing himself as the definitive authority on soft tissue tumor pathology. His landmark 1992 article in the American Journal of Surgical Pathology fundamentally altered global approaches to soft tissue tumor classification just three years after completing his residency training. He authored the seminal textbook Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumours, first published in 1995 and now in its fifth edition, which remains the definitive resource for tumor pathology worldwide. As chair of the World Health Organization Working Group for the Classification of Tumors of Soft Tissue and Bone, he shaped international diagnostic standards that have improved accuracy in cancer diagnosis globally. His extensive research on the clinicopathologic characterization, karyotypic analysis, and molecular genetic basis of soft tissue neoplasia provided critical frameworks adopted by pathologists across the globe.
Dr. Fletcher held numerous leadership positions including presidential terms at the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology, the International Academy of Pathology, and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. He mentored countless pathologists worldwide and was celebrated for his dedication to teaching the next generation of specialists, with colleagues describing him as the finest surgical pathologist of his generation and an even better person. His diagnostic sessions were legendary for combining rigorous scientific methodology with an engaging, often irreverent sense of humor that could brighten one's spirits while delivering complex pathology insights. Dr. Fletcher cared deeply about patients, providing diagnoses for individuals from around the world, including those in resource-limited areas, demonstrating his commitment to global health equity. He passed away on July 28, 2024, at the age of 66, leaving an enduring legacy as an inspiring leader whose contributions continue to shape the practice of surgical pathology worldwide.
