It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Francine Matthys.

Francine was a person with very clear ideas, dedicated to MSF, and always keen to keep moving forward. She will be sorely missed.

Francine joined MSF in May 1985, working in Chad. She went on to work in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, and then returned to Mozambique. In 1991 Francine became Editor of Medical News. Five years later she took on the role of Director of the medical department in Brussels. She also held a place on MSF’s ethical review board.

Francine left MSF in 2001 to work as a scientific collaborator at the Institute of Public Health in Brussels, and in 2002 she moved on to become a scientific collaborator at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp.

Francine remained involved with MSF and was a board member in Belgium from 2003 to 2006.

Francine passed away on 25 September 2011. Her contribution to medical humanitarian work will not be forgotten.