GMS Distinguished Alumni Awardee Spotlight: Christopher Andry, MPhil, PhD’94
Christopher D. Andry, MPhil, PhD, serves as chief, pathology & laboratory medicine at Boston Medical Center (BMC), and chair, pathology & laboratory medicine at Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and professor of pathology & laboratory medicine and family medicine.
Andry’s career at BMC and BU has spanned more than 40 years, during which time he has demonstrated a deep-rooted commitment to and passion for the mission of the BMC Health System, the University and Medical Campus and the Boston community at large. He is dedicated to education and the creation of opportunities for students, faculty and staff who have been historically underrepresented in science and medicine. Andry received his PhD in pathology from BU and his bachelor of science and master of philosophy in biological sciences from the University of Lancaster, United Kingdom.
Can you please tell me a bit about your educational and professional background?
I attended the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom (now renamed Lancaster University) for undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences. It’s where I met my wife Virginia, my lifetime friend, supporter and mentor. I formally emigrated to the USA in 1983, when we were married; though, I started at Boston City Hospital (BCH) as a volunteer under a “Fiancé Status” visa in Fall 1982.
I undertook a research master’s degree, an MPhil, under the guidance and mentorship of Adrianne Rogers, MD, emeritus professor of pathology & laboratory medicine; Sami Harawi, MD (my first boss), at BU; and Henry Huddart, PhD, a professor at Lancaster University. I completed my thesis in 1989. Dr. Rogers and then chair, Leonard Gottlieb, MD, MPH, accepted me into the PhD program. I was allowed to work and study full-time. Our son, Conor, was born in 1992, and Virginia completed her master’s in business at BU. I graduated with a PhD in Pathology from BU in 1994, the year our daughter, Hannah, was born.
At BCH, now Boston Medical Center (BMC), I served as an electron microscopy technician, hired by John Hayes, MD, a fellow rugby player. I managed the renal pathology service while working on my degrees. With the support and mentorship of Michael J. O’Brien, MD, emeritus professor and former chair, I became the department manager in 1991 and later administrative director for the Anatomic Pathology department at BMC. I became vice chair in 2007 under the new chair, Daniel Remick, MD, received my professor title in 2018 and was appointed chair and chief of pathology & laboratory medicine in 2019 by Dean Karen Antman, MD, and former BMC President Kate Walsh.
Can you please tell me a bit about your current role, research, and/or clinical work?
Currently as chair and chief, I primarily work to support the careers and advancement of our faculty and staff. We provide exceptional clinical care to our BMC patients and contribute to education at the medical school, dental school and Graduate Medical Sciences. We recently collaborated with BU and BMC to create an experiential learning summer series for high school students who are historically underrepresented in science and medicine. We have a great team of hard-working faculty, support staff and administrators. We have both a busy clinical service at BMC and a growing research division, where we have been fortunate to hire a number of new, funded scientists working in cancer biology and neuroscience to add to our existing faculty.
I work closely with our Biospecimen Science Team. We have been fortunate to receive funding from the National Cancer Institute, BMC and BU philanthropy (Shipley Prostate Cancer Research Center) to pursue our work and research interests, particularly on the impact of pre-analytic variables on human biospecimens quality, as well as some major studies undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What first drew you to BU as a student?
My position at BCH and the University hospital overlapped with life at BU. The department covered clinical service, academic activities, research and teaching, both in the Mallory Institute of Pathology, based at BCH and at BU. Early mentors such as Dr. Rogers, Dr. O’Brien, Dr. Gottlieb and other colleagues like adjunct assistant professors Kieran Sheahan, MB, BCh, and John O’Keane,MB, BCh, opened an entire world for me. I was naïve to the field of pathology & laboratory medicine when I first arrived in the USA and was blessed to have these colleagues and friends encourage and create opportunities for me along the way.
Why did you decide to remain at BU as faculty?
BU has been a home for us. We are a Terrier family. Virginia, Conor and I are all alumni. The Medical and Charles River campuses have evolved and thrived. We are committed to a mission and vision of serving and creating opportunities for others – how could we work anywhere else!
In the time that you have been at BU, how have you seen the institution evolve?
The Medical Campus, the hospital, the research and teaching buildings have changed in an extraordinary way in the past 40 years, developed and expanded by senior leaders with vision. We have a beautiful campus that cares for people who often need the most help. We have educational programs that welcome students and trainees from all over the world. It is a rich and vibrant campus that feels connected to Boston and the surrounding communities.
What is your favorite part about being a faculty member here?
My favorite part is being able to help and support my peers and our faculty, staff, students and trainees to the best of my ability. To support and serve a patient and family population that should expect health equity in our great city.
What does receiving the GMS Distinguished Alumni Award mean to you?
I am humbled and honored. BU and BMC have been our home for four decades. I have been treated so well and supported so generously. It is with great gratitude that I accept this award.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I recognize and thank my parents and my immediate family who has always supported me, especially my wife Virginia and our wonderful children: Conor, Hannah and daughter-in-law, Kristen, who have all taught me so much and to whom I am indebted.