Ernest April

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Ernest Wilfred April (1939 - 2021) was a professional anatomist at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons who gained prominence for his controversial defense of the use of Nazi medical drawings in anatomy textbooks. [1] [2] [3] He was best known for championing Pernkopf atlas, a volume composed by leading Austrian Nazi Eduard Pernkopf. April described the atlas as "a phenomenal book, very complete and thorough and authoritative." [4]

April earned his undergraduate degree at Tufts University in 1961 and his Ph.D. in anatomy from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1969. [5] He was appointed course director of gross anatomy in 1971 and served in that position until 2009. [6] He stepped down from his teaching role after a Title IX investigation in 2010. [7]

In addition to running the human anatomy program at Columbia University, April served for many years as a Republican and Conservative councilman in Rutherford, New Jersey. [8]

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References

  1. Medical Schools Seeking Cadavers, Toledo Blade January 3, 1996
  2. Anatomist at Center of Austrian Controversy, The Washington Post, June 22, 1999
  3. Sarah Richards. M.D.'s-to-Be Honor Body Donors, The New York Times, May 16, 1999
  4. Wade, Nicholas. "Doctors Question Use Of Nazi's Medical Atlas", The New York Times , November 26, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  5. "Ernest April, MD (1939-2021)" (PDF). columbia.edu. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  6. "Ernest April Obituary (2021) New York Times". Legacy.com .
  7. Columbia Medicine, Spring 2010
  8. New job for man about town, The Record (Bergen County, NJ), Jan 2, 2003