Obituary: Professor Sami Shousha

Professor Sami Shousha

Professor Charles Coombes pays tribute to the late Professor Sami Shousha, a renowned histopathologist specialising in breast cancer.

Professor Sami Shousha trained in histopathology at The Royal Free Hospital and the School of Medicine, London. In 1978 he joined Charing Cross Hospital, where he spent the rest of his career. As well as Honorary Professor of Histopathology at the College, he was also clinical lead for the breast histopathology service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

He was a renowned histopathologist specialising in breast cancer. He published more than 200 papers, taught extensively and inspired many people. His encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject made him an international expert on the diagnosis and characterisation of disorders of the breast, and many histopathologists sought his help over more than 30 years as his reputation grew.

However it was his unique character that made him a special person to work with. His kind, self-effacing personality was an example to all of us. No problem was too much for him, despite an ever-increasing workload and disruptive reorganisations. This was true even 30 years ago when I joined the hospital: he became interested in all the research projects we were developing and worked with us, providing an essential link between laboratory science and patients with breast cancer. In all he co-authored more than 40 publications with the laboratory research team. All this was carried out cheerfully, even as the routine work load was substantially increasing, concomitant with staff shortages.

It was only a month ago that he took time to show us round the new laboratories at Charing Cross Hospital in West London, where he worked for most of his working life. He was extremely proud of the extensive newly equipped laboratories, the development of which he had done so much to encourage. 

He will be sorely missed by students, technical staff and the doctors and nurses who have come to rely so much on his opinion and teaching. Many thousands of patients unwittingly benefited from his extensive knowledge and careful attention to detail that characterised his work.

Collegues at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust pay tribute: Remembering Professor Mohamed Sami Shousha