Robert Scully Has Died

A message just received from neuropathologist David Louis, Pathologist-in-Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital:

Dr. Robert E. Scully

Dear colleagues,

It is with deep sadness that I let you know that our dear friend, mentor and colleague, Dr. Robert E. Scully, passed away late yesterday afternoon [October 30] at the age of 91.

Dr. Scully was a giant in the field of pathology who devoted almost all of his career to the Mass. General Hospital. He was on the active staff for 55 years and stepped down from active practice only in the past decade. After graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1944, he trained at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and then joined our staff in the early 1950s. Dr. Scully rapidly became known as a peerless diagnostic pathologist. Although he soon became recognized around the world for special expertise in gynecologic and testicular pathology, his opinion was sought in nearly all areas of pathology by colleague after colleague for many decades here at MGH and elsewhere. He contributed over 480 papers to the literature and described many hitherto unrecognized entities, largely in gynecologic pathology but also to a significant degree in testicular pathology. His book on the ovary was considered the standard reference work on the subject and the current classification of gynecologic tumors derives largely from his work. Dr. Scully was also the Editor of the Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital in New England Journal of Medicine for a remarkable 27 years. He was an Emeritus Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Scully was also a gentleman and a gentle man. He was quiet but firm, honest, careful, considerate and happy to give credit to others. As such, he was a beloved figure in the field of pathology worldwide.