News

MSDC notes with sadness the passing of our former president, Robert A. Dietrich, MD, JD. Dr. Dietrich passed away July 29 in Bethesda, Maryland, and his funeral will be held on Friday, August 19.

Dr. Dietrich, a pathologist, served as president of the Medical Society from 1987-1988. He was president at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, according to past President Dr. Raymond Scalettar, and led the Medical Society's response to this public health emergency."We should be proud of the manner in which he navigated our physician members and the Society through the crisis to improve the health of the public," Dr. Scalettar said.

He also served as CEO of the American Society for Clinical Pathology from 1982-1992. Dr. Dietrich was a graduate of the Georgetown School of Medicine and received his JD from the George Washington School of Law. Like many of his peers, Dr. Dietrich was also an Army veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1964-1966.

Viewing, funeral, and internment details can be seen here.

MSDC Past President Dr. Joe Gutierrez said about Dr. Dietrich, "I had known Bob my entire career, since going into practice here in DC in 1969.  He was a dedicated pathologist and always was very helpful and willing to review path slides of my patients. I knew him at the old Doctors Hospital as well as at Sibley Memorial Hospital. May he Rest In Peace."