Reginald Heber Fitz

Biography

Reginald Heber Fitz was a physician, pathologist, and teacher whose work at Harvard Medical School and in hospitals redefined the understanding of abdominal disease. His careful study of patients and organs led him to describe appendicitis as a distinct condition, helping surgeons recognize the need for timely intervention.

Through his teaching, writing, and leadership in medical societies, he shaped generations of physicians and left a legacy of scientific precision that eased suffering for countless patients; he rests at Forest Hills Cemetery as one of Boston's medical pioneers.