Celebration of Life for Dr. Kenneth D. McClatchey, DDS, MD
Ann Arbor, January, 17, 2004

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Family of Kenneth McClatchey

It is a great honor and privilege to be here join with my colleague Mikio Mori Past President of WASPaLM - World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine - in this memorable Celebration of Life, of a great pathologist, of a great man, in all senses, our friend, Dr. Kenneth McClatchey.

Kenneth McClatchey was a world leader and teacher in pathology.

In the period of 1980-90 Ken worked with PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and with WHO (World Health Organization). He helped to develop quality assurance programs and standards in Trinidad Tobago, Jamaica and Mexico.

He worked extensively with the Korean Universities and Korean Pathology Society which allowed him to develop many strong friendships. His two daughters were born in Korea, so the work in that country was very important to him.

He was currently working with IAEA (International Atomic Energy Commission) on a project to develop a model laboratory in each of 12 countries in need. These laboratories were working on testing methods for identifying drug resistant malaria and tuberculosis, killers of millions in these countries. The countries included Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Philippines, among others.

Dr. Kenneth reached the highest position in Pathology and Clinical Pathology Societies as President of WASPaLM.

WASPaLM was founded in Paris, in September 1947 by a group of European Pathologists. At present, there are 27 Societies, Colleges or Associations in 18 countries involved with WASPaLM.

Dr. Kenneth McClatchey was not only a president but with kindness and enthusiasm dedicated time to a better practice of our speciality in underdeveloped countries, teaching, stimulating, giving ideas, opening ways.

With this world approach, his goal was always for medicine practice to be improved all over the world.

His textbook Clinical Laboratory Medicine is used as reference in classes of Clinical Pathology, pregraduate and post graduate courses all over the world in several countries.

In spite of his surgery and medical treatment made a trip with his wife Marty to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro on September 24, where he had a great participation at the 37 Brazilian Congress of Clinical Pathology.

He gave a master lecture, explaining the purpose of WASPaLM and its participation with international medical organizations representing the Pathology in the World Health Organization (WHO), serving on the Council of International Organization in the Medical Sciences, and establishing relation with other international bodies. He explained in an excellent way the future of our speciality in the world.

It is not as though he had all the answers, but he was there to try to provide the technical information, and support to make necessary change for all.

In the Second Evaldo Melo Latin American Forum of Accreditation of Clinical Laboratories Ken had active participation, close to all the Clinical pathologists of several societies belong to ALAPAC - Associacion Latino Americana de Patologia Clinica - Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, coordinated by Dr. Wilson Shcolnick - Accreditation Coordinator of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology.

On October 30, he went to Mexican Congress in Vera Cruz city where he gave us a master lecture The Laboratory Medicine in the III Millenium explaining about future and problems of Laboratory Medicine, our technological progress, mainly in Molecular Biology field and its growing financial difficulties that affect laboratories all over the world.

Dr. Kenneth left an example of work, of competence, of kindness, of perseverance to us. It is a great loss for WASPaLM and for all world pathologists.

He will never be forgotten.

We shall always remember him with respect and admiration thanking him for all he gave us and we shall follow his way.

We thank Marty, as well, for being such a companion, strong woman and friend: God bless her and their family.

Thank you all.

Marilene Melo M.D.
President of WASPaLM

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