Russell Morse Wilder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Russell Morse Wilder
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| Born | November 24, 1885 |
| Died | December 16, 1959 |
| Occupation | Physician |
Russell Morse Wilder Sr. (born November 24, 1885 – died December 16, 1959) was an important American doctor and researcher. He was an expert in diabetes (a condition where the body has trouble managing sugar) and epilepsy (a brain disorder causing seizures). Dr. Wilder is famous for helping create the "ketogenic diet." This special diet is used to treat both epilepsy and diabetes. He was also one of the first doctors in America to use insulin to help people with diabetes.
Contents
A Life of Learning and Discovery
Early Education and Research
Russell Wilder was a very dedicated student. He earned his first degree in 1907 from the University of Chicago. He then continued his studies, getting a Ph.D. in pathology in 1911. Pathology is the study of diseases. He also became a medical doctor (M.D.) in 1911 from Rush Medical College. During his studies, he even spent a year learning in Germany at Heidelberg University.
Studying Typhus Fever
In 1909, while still a medical student, Dr. Wilder traveled to Mexico City. He joined another doctor, Howard Taylor Ricketts, to study typhus fever. Typhus is a serious illness spread by insects. Sadly, Dr. Ricketts passed away from the disease in 1910. But Dr. Wilder bravely returned to Mexico to continue their important research.
Becoming a Doctor and Specialist
After his time in Mexico, Dr. Wilder spent eight months studying in Vienna, Austria, in 1914. When he returned, he became a doctor at Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago. He worked there from 1914 to 1917. During this time, he completed his medical training.
Contributions at Mayo Clinic
In 1919, Dr. Wilder joined the famous Mayo Clinic. He became the head of the section for all patients with diabetes. He worked there until 1929, helping many people. He also taught at the Mayo Foundation, becoming an assistant professor and then an associate professor.
Leading Medical Departments
From 1929 to 1931, Dr. Wilder was a professor and head of the medicine department at the University of Chicago. He then returned to the Mayo Clinic in 1931. There, he became a full professor and led the department of medicine. He focused his research on how the body uses food and nutrients, which is called metabolism and nutrition.
National Leadership in Health
In 1950, Dr. Wilder retired from the Mayo Clinic. He then took on a very important role. He became the first director of a new government organization. This was the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases. This institute helps research and treat conditions like arthritis and metabolic diseases. Due to health issues, he retired from this role in 1953. He then moved back to Rochester, Minnesota.
Sharing Knowledge and Receiving Awards
Dr. Wilder wrote or co-wrote over 250 scientific papers. He also contributed to many medical textbooks and even the Encyclopaedia Britannica. He helped guide important medical journals. He also advised the U.S. government on health and nutrition, especially during World War II.
Recognitions and Honors
He was the president of the American Diabetes Association from 1946 to 1947. In 1954, he received the Joseph Goldberger Award. This award recognized his important work in clinical nutrition. He also received an award in 1956 for promoting the addition of vitamins to white flour and bread. This helped make food more nutritious for everyone.
Family Life
Dr. Russell Wilder married Lucy Elizabeth Beeler in 1911. They had two sons, Russell Morse Wilder Jr. and Thomas Carroll Wilder, both of whom also became doctors. He passed away in 1959, leaving behind a legacy of important medical discoveries.
