Posted on 06/22/2005 10:29:58 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Dr. Claude H. Organ Jr., an internationally known surgeon and medical educator who was the second African American to serve as president of the American College of Surgeons, died Saturday in Oakland. He was 78.
Organ was editor of the prestigious Journal of American Medical Association publication Archives of Surgery for 15 years. He came to Oakland in 1989 to establish and lead the University of California, Davis/University of California San Francisco East Bay Surgery Department, now the UCSF-East Bay department of surgery. There, he oversaw the training of dozens of surgeons, including several African-American women, a population severely underrepresented in the field of surgery.
"Claude Organ was a true giant in academic surgery. He symbolized the highest standards in clinical practice, the value of the educator and the appreciation for scientific achievement," said Dr. Hobart Harris, a professor of surgery at UCSF. "There are so few African American academicians in surgery, it was a source of comfort to know someone like Organ had a seat at the table. It is a great loss for us, not just ethnically, (but also) in surgery."
Dr. Alden Harken, who replaced Organ as chairman of the department, said Organ built the department into a highly respected training program.
"The singular message and philosophy he and his wife, Betty, personify is their uncompromising interest in excellence, in both their professional and personal lives. It was clear all of our residents in this program looked to him for personal and professional guidance," Harken said.
In 1999, Organ was honored by the American College of Surgeons with its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. He served as president of the organization in 2003.
Prior to establishing the East Bay department of surgery, Organ taught surgery at the University of Oklahoma and served as chairman of the Creighton University Department of Surgery in Omaha, Neb.
He was also president of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons; president of the Board of Trustees of Xavier University of New Orleans, his alma mater; and president of the Urban League of Omaha.
He earned his M.D. and his master's in surgery from Creighton Medical School in Omaha.
In addition to his work as an educator, he was a prolific writer, authoring or co-authoring more than 250 scientific articles and book chapters and five books.
One of his favorite articles set the record straight on the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Charles Drew, the pioneering blood plasma researcher. Contrary to popular myth, Drew did not die because he was refused a blood transfusion at a segregated hospital.
Organ also lectured worldwide, including in Australia and South Africa.
Although he had reached the pinnacle of his field, he never forgot his struggles to overcome racism. He was accepted to the University of Texas medical school, but when the school discovered he was black, it offered to pay the difference in tuition for him to attend another school.
Throughout his career, he fought tirelessly for the inclusion of more African Americans, other minorities and women in the training and practice of surgery.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Lucille Mays Organ; his sister, Claudesta Gould of Los Angeles; his brother, Henry Organ Sr. of Menlo Park; seven children — Claude H. III, Brian, Paul, Gregory, David, Sandra and Rita — and 10 grandchildren.
A private service is planned for this evening. A public memorial will be scheduled.
The family prefers donations to the Claude and Elizabeth Organ Endowed Professorship at Xavier University of New Orleans: Office of the President, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, LA 70128.
If I have to be operated on, I'd want to be operated on by a Dr. Organ, cool/funny name for a surgeon. RIP.
>> Dr. Alden Harken, who replaced Organ as chairman of the department, <<
"I AM the replacement Organ!"
"Organ Endowed Professorship"
Let's all make sure that the Organ is well-endowed, shall we?
"his brother, Henry Organ"
Bet he HATES it when people call him "Harry."
"A private service is planned for this evening."
I have an announcement to make: The Organ viewing will be held in private
Rest in peace Cardinal Sin and Claude Organ.
Claude Organ? Sounds like the result of a very nasty cat fight.
"seven children — Claude H. III, Brian, Paul, Gregory, David, Sandra and Rita"
That's right! She's Sandy Organ!
*bow to the master*
No mention of his estranged brother, Hugh Organ.
Claude Organ? Sounds like the result of a very nasty cat fight.Or Michael Jackson, denied little boys by his notoriety, behaving inappropriately at the Neverland Zoo. :o
-Eric
As Herb Caen would have wrote - namephreak!
"That's ignorant." :)
Who is president of the Society of White Academic Surgeons?
eh. Since "hugh" is pronounced "hue," it doesn't really work... unless its both hugh and series.
Back off... the guy was a dispeller of racial myths, not a PV hack. THere was a time not so long ago when blacks needed to assert their rights in ways whites don't. SBAS is not necessarily akin to the Black Student Unions. (Although for all I know it may have become so, if it still exists.)
Back off...
You back off, (.) I asked a legitimate question to which I'll add another, where is the white congressional caucus? and another, where are the white student unions? I assume you don't know the answers since you tried in the best liberal democratic manner to avoid the question.
THere was a time not so long ago when blacks needed to assert their rights in ways whites don't.
And even accepting this as true you somehow think that this excuses anti-white racism (otherwise known as affirmative action) that is the law of thw land now?
Back off...
You back off, (.) I asked a legitimate question to which I'll add another, where is the white congressional caucus? and another, where are the white student unions? I assume you don't know the answers since you tried in the best liberal democratic manner to avoid the question.
THere was a time not so long ago when blacks needed to assert their rights in ways whites don't.
And even accepting this as true you somehow think that this excuses anti-white racism (otherwise known as affirmative action) that is the law of thw land now?
stuned his beeber as well.
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