Lisa Harbury Lerner

Lisa Sofia Beurling Harbury Lerner, M.D., a distinguished dermatologist and skin pathologist, 58, of Chestnut Hill, MA passed away peacefully on January 6, 2021. Lisa was born in Stanford, CA into a family devoted to education. She graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, completing the combined Harvard/MIT Health Sciences and Technology program. She was a medical intern and resident at the Beth Israel Hospital and then completed a residency in Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and a fellowship in Dermatopathology at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and MGH, first from 1994-2000, where she published papers on melanoma, infectious disease and the role of nitric oxide in toxic epidermal necrolysis/Stevens Johnson Syndrome. She was a gifted teacher of students, trainees and colleagues at the local and national levels. From 2000-2012, together with a colleague, she built the most successful skin pathology laboratory in New England. Dr. Lerner was immensely proud of being the diagnostic backbone of the laboratory, and also demonstrated business acumen, that led to its successful sale. She then returned to Massachusetts General Hospital and subsequently pursued opportunities at StrataDx and Quantum Pathology.

Lisa was a polymath with interests in botany, food (both foodie and chef), ballet, including serving as a trustee of Boston Ballet, repeatedly qualifying for and completing the Boston Marathon with the Heartbreak Hill Striders, and reveling behind the wheel of the Mustang GT with Skip Barber racing, a passion in recent years. She loved dogs, and her Newfoundlands, Jasey and Bella, were a special part of her family. She dove into her hobbies with the same passion and pursuit of perfection as she did everything to which she set her mind. People around her reaped the benefits of her studious mind. While rigorous and demanding the best in her colleagues and paramedical staff, Lisa was generous to her associates during any crisis that they faced.

While compiling an illustrious academic and professional career, Lisa was a dedicated mother, wife, daughter and friend. She loved her adult children, Max (deceased), Sofia and Roo, and her husband Ethan, who survive her. She is also survived by her father, Albert and her siblings Eva Josephine, Pehr, and Henry and her nieces and nephews, Britta, Alexandra, Robert, Albert, Alix, Ishan and Om.

Professionally, she was the dermatopathologist you wanted in the office next door, to employ her expertise and broad body of knowledge. She was generous, understanding and consoling. Lisa will be missed dearly both at home, in the laboratory and by her professional colleagues and friends.

A virtual shiva was held at Temple Emmanuel in Newton, MA. Lisa was buried in Woods Hole, MA alongside her beloved son, Max Rush Lerner. Lisa was inconsolable over Max’s death in 2019 from an aortic dissection that was missed due to medical error.

Contributions in Lisa’s memory in support of her love of dogs, gardening and legislation to remove the stigma of mental health from medical licensing may be made via the Boston Foundation: Lisa Harbury Lerner memorial fund for flora, fauna and mental health. www.tbf.org/lisalernerfund