Harold Gifford Sr.

Last updated

Harold Gifford Sr. (1859-1929) was an ophthalmologist, a discrete philanthropist, and an ardent nature enthusiast. He was born in Milwaukee, WI, obtained his PhD from the University of Michigan, and traveled to Europe for his post-graduate work alongside the most well-respected ophthalmologist of his day. Returning to the United States, Gifford settled in Omaha, NE, were, with his wife Mary at his side, he went on to become one of the city's most prominent surgeons. [1]

Contents

Career

In 1879, Gifford graduated from Cornell University and went on to become 'Assistant to the Professor of Materia Medica and Ophthalmic and Aural Surgery' at the University of Michigan where he obtained his PhD in ophthalmology in 1882. Shortly thereafter, he continued his post-graduate work, briefly in New York before traveling to Europe. While there, the doctor was appointed First Assistant to one of the forerunners of modern ophthalmology, Johann Friedrich Horner, of Zürich, Switzerland. [2] [3]

Gifford moved to Omaha, NE, in 1886, where he became the city's first practicing ophthalmic surgeon. From 1895-1898 he was a professor of ophthalmology and dean of the Omaha Medical College, later known as the University of Nebraska Medical Center(UNMC).

After a brief hiatus from teaching he returned to the field as professor of optometry at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, not to be confused with similarly named UNMC, where he taught between the years 1903-1925. He also served as associate dean of this institution from 1902-1911. [4]

During this hiatus, Gifford conducted laboratory research, in some cases volunteering his own eyes as test subjects, during which time he made several discoveries furthering man's understanding of the cause of diseases of the eyes. The results of one such experiment, published in 1896, determined that acute conjunctivitis was caused by a bacterium named pneumococcus. [5]

Life beyond work

When he moved to Omaha in 1886 one of the driving motivations was to secure the hand of Mary Louise Millard, the daughter of Ezra Millard, a prominent banker, and pioneer land developer. Together, he and his wife had four children: Harold Jr. and his brother Sanford, who would both later follow in their father's footsteps, as well as daughters Anne and Mary. [6]

As a devoted naturalist he spent long hours outdoors, sometimes taking walks along the Missouri River, enjoying the country air from the seat of his Stanley Steamer, or a round of golf on his personal nine-hole course built on his farm just north of Omaha. His belief that all men have the right to enjoy nature led him to donate a portion of his farm to the city of Omaha. This land went on to become a large portion of Fontenelle Forest. As well, he gave of the land that later became known as Gifford Park. [7]

His philanthropy didn't stop there. As a man of wealth and prestige he had much to give, and did so without need of recognition. Besides donating to the Red Cross and money for Serbian relief he, along with his wife, gave to numerous charities and civic organizations.

As Sarah Joslyn is quoted to have said after Gifford's death from heart attack in 1929, "He was not only a great doctor, but a great philanthropist. The world will never know what he has done as a philanthropist, because he worked in such a quiet way." [8]

Related Research Articles

Ophthalmology Field of medicine treating eye disorders

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in ophthalmology. The credentials include a degree in medicine, followed by additional four to five years of ophthalmology residency training. Ophthalmology residency training programs may require a one-year pre-residency training in internal medicine, pediatrics, or general surgery. Additional specialty training may be sought in a particular aspect of eye pathology. Ophthalmologists are allowed to use medications to treat eye diseases, implement laser therapy, and perform surgery when needed. Ophthalmologists may participate in academic research on the diagnosis and treatment for eye disorders.

Neuro-ophthalmology is an academically-oriented subspecialty that merges the fields of neurology and ophthalmology, often dealing with complex systemic diseases that have manifestations in the visual system. Neuro-ophthalmologists initially complete a residency in either neurology, neurosurgery, or ophthalmology, then do a fellowship in the complementary field. Since diagnostic studies can be normal in patients with significant neuro-ophthalmic disease, a detailed medical history and physical exam is essential, and neuro-ophthalmologists often spend a significant amount of time with their patients.

Johann Friedrich Horner Swiss ophthalmologist (1831-1886)

Johann Friedrich Horner was an ophthalmologist based at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a public center of health sciences research, patient care, and education in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded as a private medical college in 1880, UNMC became part of the University of Nebraska System in 1902. Rapidly expanding in the early 20th century, the university founded a hospital, dental college, pharmacy college, college of nursing and college of medicine. It later added colleges of public health and allied health professions. One of Omaha's top employers, UNMC has an annual budget of $741 million for 2018–19 and an economic impact of $4.8 billion.

Hamid Ahmadieh is an Iranian ophthalmologist, medical scientist, and pioneer specializing on the retina of the eye. He is also the founder of Iranian Vitreoretina Society.

Gifford Park is a historic neighborhood in midtown Omaha, Nebraska. It is roughly bounded by the North Freeway on the east, North 38th Street on the west, Dodge Street on the south and Cuming Street on the north. Its namesake park was added to the City parks network in 1916. The neighborhood is bounded by several historic neighborhoods, including Bemis Park, Gold Coast, and the Near North Side.

James "Jim" Linder is an American author, academic and business leader, and is an authority on university research commercialization. He serves as chief executive officer (CEO) of Nebraska Medicine, and most recently was president of the University Technology Development Corporation and chief strategist for the University of Nebraska system. He is also a professor of pathology and microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Jacob Hermann Knapp German-American ophthalmologist and otolaryngologist

Jacob Hermann Knapp, also known as Hermann Knapp, was a German-American ophthalmologist and otolaryngologist.

Dr. Rodney Smith "Rod" Markin, M.D., Ph.D., is an American pioneer and leading authority in the field of laboratory automation. In 1993, he designed and created one of the world's first automated clinical laboratory specimen, device and analyzer management systems. In the mid-1990s, he chaired a standards group called the Clinical Testing Automation Standards Steering Committee (CTASSC) of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, which later evolved into an area committee of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Paul T. Finger, MD, FACS, is an ophthalmologist in New York, New York, specializing in ocular oncology. Finger is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City, New York. He is also the director of The New York Eye Cancer Center and Ocular Tumor Services at New York University and The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai. He consults for Northwell Health Complex of affiliated Hospitals including Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. He also served two terms as chairman of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force, developing the first consensus staging system for ocular cancers, he developed and served as chair of The American Brachytherapy Society’s 2014 Committee that provided consensus guidelines for ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma and retinoblastoma, he was the only ophthalmologist asked to serve on the 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine’s Task Group-129 that produced both dosimetry and quality assurance standards for plaque brachytherapy. Finger earned his MD from Tulane University School of Medicine, served his internship at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in New York City, and completed a residency at The Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York City, New York. He finished a fellowship in ocular tumor, orbital disease and ophthalmic radiation therapy with Samuel Packer, MD, at North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical College. Finger is a life member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Joint Committee on Cancer, the Commission on Cancer, the Retina Society, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, The International Council of Ophthalmology, the Union for International Cancer Control, the International Society of Ophthalmic Oncology and the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

Geoffrey Rose BSc MBBS MS DSc MRCP FRCS FRCOphth is an English ophthalmologist and Past-President of both the British OculoPlastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) and the European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ESOPRS).

Stanley M. Truhlsen

Stanley M. Truhlsen is an American ophthalmologist and university professor in Omaha who has served as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, as a governor of the American College of Surgeons and led a number of Nebraska organizations.

John Bruce Hamilton was an Australian ophthalmologist.

Taraprasad Das is an Indian ophthalmologist, who specializes in diseases of the retina and vitreous membrane. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the L.V.Prasad Eye Institute. He is professor of ophthalmology at the Sun Yet-sen University of Medical Sciences in Guangzhou, China.

The Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) was created in 1994 by Dr. Geoffrey Tabin and Dr. Sanduk Ruit with a goal of establishing a sustainable eye care infrastructure in the Himalaya. HCP empowers local doctors to provide ophthalmic care through skills-transfer and education. From its beginning, HCP responds to a pressing need for eye care in the Himalayan region. With programs in Nepal, Tibet, China, Bhutan, India, Sikkim, and Pakistan they have been able to restore sight to tens of thousands of blind people every year since 1994.

Lorenz Eugene Zimmerman was an American ophthalmologist and an ophthalmic pathologist.

Hans Goldmann was an Austrian-Swiss ophthalmologist and inventor.

Daniel M. Albert

Daniel M. Albert MD, MS is an American ophthalmologist, ocular cancer researcher, medical historian, and collector of rare books and ocular equipment. As of 2018, he is Professor of Ophthalmology at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University.

Philip I. Murray FRCP, FRCS, FRCOphth is Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Birmingham, in England, and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre.

George Ian Scott Scottish ophthalmic surgeon

George Ian Scott CBE, FRSE, FRCSEd was a 20th-century Scottish ophthalmic surgeon who in 1954, became the first holder of the Forbes Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh. He specialised in neuro-ophthalmology, studies of the visual fields and diabetic retinopathy. He was President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 1964 to 1967, Surgeon-Oculist to the Queen in Scotland from 1965 and President of the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1972.

References

  1. ↑ "Gifford Park and Its Namesake". Gifford Park History Book. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Harold Gifford". Whonamedit.com. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Donnelly, Walter (1951). The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey ...: pt. 1. UM Libraries. pp. 846–847.
  4. ↑ "UNMC History 101: The Oracle of Omaha Ophthalmology". University of Nebraska Medical Center. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Gifford M.D, S. R. "Some Practical Procedures Used by Dr. Harold Gifford". jamanetwork.com. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "UNMC History 101: The Oracle of Omaha Ophthalmology".Missing or empty |url= (help)
  7. ↑ "Gifford Park and Its Namesake".Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. ↑ "UNMC History 101: The Oracle of Omaha Ophthalmology".Missing or empty |url= (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.