News

We are all extremely saddened to announce that our respected colleague and friend Professor Paul Vincent MD, FRACP, FRCPA, passed away on 7 June 2024 at Concord Hospital in Sydney.

Paul was a renowned clinical and research haematologist and Director of the Kanematsu Memorial Institute at Sydney Hospital and Sydney University. Following its relocation to the RPAH campus as the Kanematsu Laboratories, he continued as Director from 1982 – 2002.

His research and clinical interests focused on malignant haematology, especially the leukaemias. His career spanned the period during which leukaemia treatments advanced in rapid leaps, ushering in the era of stem cell and bone marrow transplantation for leukaemia and molecular characterisation of haematological malignancies of many types.

Paul was internationally recognised for his work and taught and trained his staff and students with great enthusiasm. While softly spoken, Paul was always a strong advocate for his patients and staff and dedicated to pursuing better treatments for his patients. He was a consummate clinician, and a physician scientist who always based his decision on good science, and who always had an open door for junior colleagues.

With Professor Ray Lowenthal, he founded the Australian Leukaemia Study Group in 1982, and was a stalwart in the Australian and New Zealand Lymphoma Group. These clinical trial groups were both the forerunners of the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG), which is today the pre-eminent Australasian cooperative study group in malignant haematology.

Paul was a Carl de Gruchy Orator and Life Member of the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ), and he was also the editor of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) journal ‘Pathology’, from 1995 – 2000. Paul retired in 2002 and was accorded a Festschrift at the time to honour his impressive academic contribution.

Paul was a long-standing and important member of ALLG, driving forward research and advocacy for better treatments for patients in Australia. We were proud to commemorate Paul and his contribution to the Group during our 50^th anniversary celebrations in 2023. He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by the Australian and New Zealand haematology community.