Over a career spanning more than 30 years as a member of the MGH Pathology Service, including 11 years as the head of the Breast Pathology Division, Frederick Koerner, MD, has dedicated his life to caring for patients facing breast cancer. Even retirement from the Pathology Department hasn’t stopped him — he returns to teach residents and other students about diagnosis and pathology reports for breast cancer patients.
Dr. Koerner has made many valuable contributions to the field of breast pathology. He developed a breast pathology training manual, outlining incredibly specific instructions for specimen handling, microscopic analysis and data reporting. Throughout his career, he also personally examined each mastectomy specimen that he was responsible for diagnosing, to make sure that every step had been followed to the letter, and that no observations or details had been missed along the way. This attention to detail and focus on top-notch care is passed on to his trainees as a lasting tribute to Dr. Koerner’s wonderful career.
