The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) regrets to announce the unexpected death of Harry J. Long III, MD, 66, Professor of Oncology in the  Division of Medical Oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, MN.

According to a statement released by his colleagues at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Long held a prominent position in Medical Oncology since joining the Mayo Clinic in 1981.  Dr. Long had a distinguished career in the Navy as a Medical Oncologist prior to joining Mayo, winning several awards.  While in the Navy he obtained the position of Interim Chairman of Hematology and Oncology at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. 

Beyond his leadership of the gynecologic program at Mayo, Dr. Long served in multiple positions within the SGO, most recently appointed vice chair of the Membership Committee. A member of SGO since 1999, Dr. Long had been a staunch advocate of multidisciplinary membership that encompasses the entire gynecologic oncology team.

Membership Committee Chair Kian Behbakht, MD, said: "He was a constant voice for reason, a masterful speaker and a valued mentor. The membership committee and I as well as the SGO and the greater gyn onc community will miss him greatly."

"I am genuinely devastated by the untimely passing of such a beloved colleague," said Membership Committee Vice Chair Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD. "His contribution, commitment, and devotion to our subspecialty was indefatigable. There are not sufficient words to convey the feeling of loss that I feel, that the committee feels, and that the SGO feels."

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at Lakewood Chapel in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will be at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home, Davies Chapel, Minneapolis.