Dr. Gerald E. Byrne Jr. 1937-2016

Dr. Gerald E. Byrne Jr. was born in 1937.  He received his BS Degree in Biology–Chemistry from St. Joseph’s College in Indiana. He then attended St. Louis University School of Medicine where he graduated in 1963.  From 1963 to 1966 he was a Pathology Resident at St. Louis University Group Hospital. He completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago under the mentorship of world renowned Hematopathologist, Dr. Henry Rappaport. He served two years in the United States Air Force, and in 1971 he was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago.

In 1975 Dr. Byrne joined the Department of Pathology at the University of Miami, Jackson Medical Center as Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Hematopathology. He was also Director of the Division of Clinical Pathology (1978-1993) and Director of the Pathology Residency program from 1991 to 2004. He retired in 2012 with the title of Emeritus Professor of Pathology.

During his tenure at the University of Miami/Jackson Medical Center, Dr. Byrne trained many medical students, Pathology and Hematology–Oncology Residents and Fellows. His daily microscope rounds were extremely popular and were attended by a large number of house staff and clinicians. Their lively sessions were great examples of combined patient service and education and they opened the door for research projects with the clinical colleagues.

Dr. Byrne was a nationally and internationally recognized Hematopathologist and his many seminars and workshops at ASCP and CAP scientific meetings were highly successful and well attended.  He was also a permanent feature during the Department’s popular Annual Review and Practical Advances Course in Miami Beach.

As a consultant for the pathologists in South Florida, Dr. Byrne was the go-to person for complicated cases of lymphoma and leukemia. He always sent his opinion to the referring colleagues, first by a courtesy phone call, then by a formal letter detailing the histologic findings and the supporting ancillary tests for the diagnosis.

It is difficult to summarize the lifelong achievements of a true academician in few sentences.  Suffice to say that Dr. Gerald Byrne was a giant in his field, who helped innumerable patients with his craft, and at the same time, was a source of inspiration for his students and younger colleagues. He will be missed immensely.