Percy Lee: Brilliant scientist and kind human being

Percy Lee, Professor and Vice-Chair of Clinical Research at City of Hope, shared on LinkedIn:

“Cullen, my friend, I can’t believe that you are no longer with us. You are a brilliant scientist and a kind human being.

Thank you for your friendship since our days at Harvard Medical School. I still remember talking about the field of radiation oncology when you rotated on our team as a medical student when I was an intern at Massachusetts General Hospital. I am glad you chose to go into our speciality.

Our ties ran deep. We were both part of the Stanford (residency) and MD Anderson radiation oncology (faculty) family. You invited my family over during our first thanksgiving dinner in Houston in 2019 where you cooked your famous wagyu brisket.

I will miss your friendship, kindness, generosity, and humor. The world lost a great person, father, husband, and cancer researcher. This thanksgiving will be tough….rest in peace.

You know that we shared a passion to eradicate pancreatic cancer as we know it and it’s suffering for humanity. We talked about our mutual careers for hours one afternoon in the office during Covid when no one was in the office. I knew that you had much more planned ahead of you.

We both have a personal passion to make good Texas bbq. You were a pro and I was a rookie. The text thread from last thanksgiving below between you and me showed the kind of person that you were, kind and gentle. You and I both knew that this was my first attempt at smoking a brisket. The brisket looked and tasted like a piece of tree bark. Yet, your words of encouragement inspired me to try again and the next two briskets that I have made since have looked and tasted better.

This thanksgiving will be tough. I will be thinking of you Cullen as I prepare to smoke a prime rib for the family on the Traeger. I know that you will be looking down from heaven and smiling. I hope to make you proud.”

Source: Percy Lee/LinkedIn