Pioneer. Clinician. Mentor. Leader. Thomas Lynch Jr., MD, could rightly answer to many titles.
Dr. Lynch has played a significant role in the fight against cancer. His former colleague Steven Isakoff, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at the Mass General Cancer Center, puts it best: “Tom has improved the lives of everyone touched by cancer, including not only patients and their families, but also professional caregivers and researchers.” Tom’s breakthrough work placed the Mass General Cancer Center at the forefront of targeted therapy research and drug development, and also created a new paradigm in the use of molecular diagnostics, setting a new standard of testing for all cancer patients at the hospital.
Dr. Lynch’s compassion for people has been equally as inspiring. He helped found the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare at Mass General, focusing on the often overlooked needs of caregivers as they serve those in need.
In his most recent role at Mass General, Dr. Lynch served as CEO and chairman of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization. Currently he is the executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Bristol-Myers Squibb, a role which offers him a platform to make a far-reaching difference in the health of patients around the world.
While Dr. Lynch is no longer a member of the Mass General Cancer Center team, his profound impact is lasting. In the words of Lecia Sequist, MD, MPH, thoracic medical oncologist, “It is hard to identify an area of the Mass General Cancer Center that hasn’t been touched by Tom Lynch’s leadership.”