George E. Pfahler | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | George Edward Pfahler January 29, 1874
Numidia, Pennsylvania |
Died | January 29, 1957
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | (aged 83)
Education | Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia |
Occupation | Radiologist |
Spouses | Frances Simpson
(
m. 1908; died 1910)Muriel Wilkes Bennett
(
m. 1918) |
Signature | |
![]() |
George Edward Pfahler (January 29, 1874 – January 29, 1957) was an American physician and one of the early influences on the specialty of radiology.
George E. Pfahler was born in Numidia, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1874. [1] In 1898, he graduated from the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. By the next year, he was an assistant chief resident at Philadelphia General Hospital. The hospital's board of managers procured an x-ray machine, then known as a "roentgen ray machine", and they appointed Pfahler to operate it. The young doctor had set out to become an internal medicine physician, and at first he doubted whether x-rays would have much value in the clinical care of patients. The rest of Pfahler's career was defined by his focus on direct patient care applications of X-rays. [2]
After residency, Pfahler spent the early years of his medical career as a clinical professor at the Medico-Chirurgical College and as the director of the radiology departments at Philadelphia General Hospital and the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital. The Medico-Chirurgical College merged with the University of Pennsylvania in 1916, and Pfahler became a professor and vice dean of radiology at that institution. He worked at the medical school through 1946, and afterwards he was an emeritus professor. [3] He made advances both in diagnostic radiology and in radiotherapy, taking special interest in radiation treatment for oral and breast cancers. [2]
Pfahler was the 1910-11 president of the American Roentgen Ray Society, and he was the president of the American Radium Society in 1922. [4] [5] The next year, he became the first president of the American College of Radiology (ACR). [6] He won the ACR Gold Medal, the organization's highest award, in 1952. [7]
Pfahler married Frances Simpson on November 21, 1908. She died on March 15, 1910, and he remarred to Muriel Wilkes Bennett on July 10, 1918. [8]
He died at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia on January 29, 1957. [9]
The Pfahler Hall of Science at Ursinus College is named in his honor. [10]
George E. Pfahler | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | George Edward Pfahler January 29, 1874
Numidia, Pennsylvania |
Died | January 29, 1957
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | (aged 83)
Education | Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia |
Occupation | Radiologist |
Spouses | Frances Simpson
(
m. 1908; died 1910)Muriel Wilkes Bennett
(
m. 1918) |
Signature | |
![]() |
George Edward Pfahler (January 29, 1874 – January 29, 1957) was an American physician and one of the early influences on the specialty of radiology.
George E. Pfahler was born in Numidia, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1874. [1] In 1898, he graduated from the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. By the next year, he was an assistant chief resident at Philadelphia General Hospital. The hospital's board of managers procured an x-ray machine, then known as a "roentgen ray machine", and they appointed Pfahler to operate it. The young doctor had set out to become an internal medicine physician, and at first he doubted whether x-rays would have much value in the clinical care of patients. The rest of Pfahler's career was defined by his focus on direct patient care applications of X-rays. [2]
After residency, Pfahler spent the early years of his medical career as a clinical professor at the Medico-Chirurgical College and as the director of the radiology departments at Philadelphia General Hospital and the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital. The Medico-Chirurgical College merged with the University of Pennsylvania in 1916, and Pfahler became a professor and vice dean of radiology at that institution. He worked at the medical school through 1946, and afterwards he was an emeritus professor. [3] He made advances both in diagnostic radiology and in radiotherapy, taking special interest in radiation treatment for oral and breast cancers. [2]
Pfahler was the 1910-11 president of the American Roentgen Ray Society, and he was the president of the American Radium Society in 1922. [4] [5] The next year, he became the first president of the American College of Radiology (ACR). [6] He won the ACR Gold Medal, the organization's highest award, in 1952. [7]
Pfahler married Frances Simpson on November 21, 1908. She died on March 15, 1910, and he remarred to Muriel Wilkes Bennett on July 10, 1918. [8]
He died at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia on January 29, 1957. [9]
The Pfahler Hall of Science at Ursinus College is named in his honor. [10]