Peter J. Lynch 1936-2024. An obituary
Authors: Sergei A. Grando, Maria Hordinsky, Elizabeth Edwards, Christopher B. Zachary
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2024)

Peter John Lynch, MD,1Grando S, Hordinsky M, Edwards L, Christopher Z. The Legacy and Memories of Peter J. Lynch, M.D. Mendeley Data. https://doi.org/10.17632/r5w3hn8p4p.1Google Scholar sadly left us on February 19, 2024. We lost a friend, a worldwide respected dermatologist, a pensive courageous human being who was dedicated to his profession, family, and friends. He was a legendary, delightful, and outstanding figure whose life's work touched countless individuals. Dr Lynch was born on October 22, 1936, in Minneapolis, MN. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1961 and completed his residency in dermatology at the University of Michigan in 1965. Peter married Barbara Ann Lanzi on January 18, 1964. In 1968, after completing his time in the Army, Peter joined the University of Michigan Dermatology Department, where he served first as an Assistant Professor and then as an Associate Professor. Dr Lynch left Michigan in 1973 to become the Chief of Dermatology Section at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he also served as the Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine. In 1986, Dr Lynch became the Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota where he also held the position of Medical Director of Ambulatory Care (Fig 1). In 1995, Dr Lynch was recruited to lead Department of Dermatology at the University of California, Davis. He stepped down from the chair position in 2000 but remained quite active in the department carrying the title of Professor Emeritus. Dr Lynch served the dermatologic community generously throughout his long career, including serving as Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Board of Dermatology. He earned worldwide recognition for his innovative works. He has authored or coauthored more than 125 publications in medical journals, 50 book chapters, and 9 dermatology textbooks. In 2013, he was awarded the American Academy of Dermatology Pearson Memorial Education Award. Before that, he received the Distinguished Service award for faculty at the University of Michigan and the Distinguished Faculty award from the University Arizona. Also, he was decorated with the Army Commendation Medal. Of his many awards, possibly the one that embodies him best is honorary membership to the American Academy of Dermatology. Fewer than 50 of the 13,000 American dermatologists have been awarded this honor. As a nationally recognized scholar and clinician whose role emphasized clinical education, Dr Lynch was awarded the Frederick G. Novy, Jr MD Professor position at the Department of Dermatology of the University of California, Davis. Dr Lynch fostered pivotal advances in various fields of academic dermatology and greatly helped many patients. Dr Lynch's scholarly contributions are vast and influential, and they will be long admired by colleagues and patients. He was a real gentleman, talented physician, and devoted scholar. Dr Lynch leaves behind a void that cannot be easily filled, not only in the field of dermatology but in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him (Fig 2). His memory will endure through the lives he touched, the knowledge he shared, and the countless individuals who continue to benefit from his expertise. None disclosed.