David Dahlin
Encyclopedia
David Carl Dahlin, Jr., M.D., M.S., F.C.A.P., (1917–2003) was a premier North American pathologist, who trained and worked at the Mayo Clinic
(Rochester, MN) for virtually his entire career in medicine. He was internationally recognized as an expert diagnostician with regard to tumors of the musculoskeletal system—especially the bones—but was also an experienced and skilled general surgical pathologist.
As a teen, an entire summer of plowing sixty-five acres with a horse-drawn plow led him to conclude that another vocation was a wise choice. Accordingly, despite the fact that the Dahlin family had virtually no money, David enrolled in the University of South Dakota
in Vermillion, SD. He worked his way through school, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in 1938, magna cum laude
in Chicago, IL following college graduation. He again worked nights throughout his time as a medical student, usually for less than 40 cents per hour. Despite this arduous schedule and the demands of school, David graduated with an M.D. in the spring of 1940. He then served as a rotating intern at Ancker General Hospital (formerly City & County Hospital) in St. Paul, MN, and continued as a first-year resident in general pathology at that institution. The United States entered World War II
during his Ancker pathology training experience, and Dr. Dahlin enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) in 1942.
Group, comprising P-38 fighter planes equipped with high-resolution photographic equipment. After two years overseas, Dr. Dahlin mustered out of the Army in the fall of 1945, at the rank of Major
(O4), having been awarded the Bronze Star. He retained a keen interest in the history of the European Theater of Operations
in World War II throughout the rest of his life.
. However, because of scheduling issues, he was assigned first to the surgical pathology
laboratory at St. Mary's Hospital, under the tutelage of Dr. Malcolm Dockerty. Dockerty was a dynamic and gifted pathologist, whose teaching captured Dahlin's interest and loyalty. Hence, he switched his training emphasis to anatomic and clinical pathology, completing residency in 1948 and publishing his Master's Degree thesis (at the University of Minnesota) on systemic amyloidosis
. He was then appointed to the staff of the Mayo Clinic as a consultant in pathology.
Rapidly, Dahlin became a skilled general surgical pathologist in the mold of Dockerty, but began to develop special expertise in neoplasms of the skeletal system. No one had previously studied such lesions systematically at the Mayo Clinic; indeed worldwide knowledge on that topic was then quite limited. Working with Dr. Mark Coventry, an orthopedic oncologist, Dahlin cataloged the clinical, radiographic, macroscopic, and histopathologic features of virtually all bone tumors in the Mayo archive. That undertaking eventuated in the publication of a book entitled "Bone Tumors: General Aspects and an Analysis of 2276 Cases," in 1957. That text has subsequently gone through 5 additional editions and is still in print under the editorship of Drs. Krishnan K. Unni and Carrie Inwards.
. Dr. Dahlin received a host of professional honors, including the first gold medal of the International Skeletal Society, the Distinguished Pathologist Award of the United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology, the Fred Stewart Award from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Mayo Clinic, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Dahlin also was the first physician inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame
. He retired from active practice in 1983, but continued to serve as an informal consultant for some years thereafter.
while on a camping trip at the age of 86. Dr. Dahlin died of that illness on September 12, 2003, and is buried next to his wife in Rochester, MN.
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
(Rochester, MN) for virtually his entire career in medicine. He was internationally recognized as an expert diagnostician with regard to tumors of the musculoskeletal system—especially the bones—but was also an experienced and skilled general surgical pathologist.
Early Life & Education
Dahlin was born in September 1917 to David and Rose Dahlin in Beresford, South Dakota. They were farmers who had little cash income; therefore, young David Jr.-- and his three brothers and sisters—learned frugality and the virtues of hard work from an early age.As a teen, an entire summer of plowing sixty-five acres with a horse-drawn plow led him to conclude that another vocation was a wise choice. Accordingly, despite the fact that the Dahlin family had virtually no money, David enrolled in the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
in Vermillion, SD. He worked his way through school, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in 1938, magna cum laude
Medical Education
Dahlin was accepted to Rush Medical CollegeRush Medical College
Rush Medical College is the medical school of Rush University, a private university in Chicago, Illinois. Rush Medical College was one of the first medical colleges in the state of Illinois and was chartered in 1837, two days before the city of Chicago was chartered, and opened with 22 students on...
in Chicago, IL following college graduation. He again worked nights throughout his time as a medical student, usually for less than 40 cents per hour. Despite this arduous schedule and the demands of school, David graduated with an M.D. in the spring of 1940. He then served as a rotating intern at Ancker General Hospital (formerly City & County Hospital) in St. Paul, MN, and continued as a first-year resident in general pathology at that institution. The United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during his Ancker pathology training experience, and Dr. Dahlin enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) in 1942.
World War II Experience
Once commissioned as an officer in the USAAC Medical Corps, Dahlin was accepted into the training program for flight surgeons. He spent his first service year in the training command in Texas and North Carolina, and was then posted to Bari, Italy, as a medical officer in the 15th Air Force. He supported the 5th Photo ReconnaissanceReconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
Group, comprising P-38 fighter planes equipped with high-resolution photographic equipment. After two years overseas, Dr. Dahlin mustered out of the Army in the fall of 1945, at the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
(O4), having been awarded the Bronze Star. He retained a keen interest in the history of the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
in World War II throughout the rest of his life.
Continuation of Medical Education & Early Career
Dahlin returned to Rochester, MN in November 1945, intending to begin residency training in general surgeryGeneral surgery
General surgery, despite its name, is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, e.g., intestines including esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland . They also deal with diseases involving the skin, breast, soft...
. However, because of scheduling issues, he was assigned first to the surgical pathology
Surgical pathology
Surgical pathology is the most significant and time-consuming area of practice for most anatomical pathologists. Surgical pathology involves the gross and microscopic examination of surgical specimens, as well as biopsies submitted by non-surgeons such as general internists, medical subspecialists,...
laboratory at St. Mary's Hospital, under the tutelage of Dr. Malcolm Dockerty. Dockerty was a dynamic and gifted pathologist, whose teaching captured Dahlin's interest and loyalty. Hence, he switched his training emphasis to anatomic and clinical pathology, completing residency in 1948 and publishing his Master's Degree thesis (at the University of Minnesota) on systemic amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions whereby the body produces "bad proteins", denoted as amyloid proteins, which are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues and cause harm. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it...
. He was then appointed to the staff of the Mayo Clinic as a consultant in pathology.
Rapidly, Dahlin became a skilled general surgical pathologist in the mold of Dockerty, but began to develop special expertise in neoplasms of the skeletal system. No one had previously studied such lesions systematically at the Mayo Clinic; indeed worldwide knowledge on that topic was then quite limited. Working with Dr. Mark Coventry, an orthopedic oncologist, Dahlin cataloged the clinical, radiographic, macroscopic, and histopathologic features of virtually all bone tumors in the Mayo archive. That undertaking eventuated in the publication of a book entitled "Bone Tumors: General Aspects and an Analysis of 2276 Cases," in 1957. That text has subsequently gone through 5 additional editions and is still in print under the editorship of Drs. Krishnan K. Unni and Carrie Inwards.
Later Career & Awards
The publication of his book and other writings on bone tumors—eventually numbering over 200 original articles—prompted many invitations for lectureships throughout the world. Dahlin’s opinion was sought internationally on a huge number of challenging bone tumor cases, not only for advice on pathologic interpretation but clinical management as well. He served as section-head of surgical pathology at Mayo for many years, and was a Professor in the Mayo Medical SchoolMayo Medical School
Mayo Medical School is a part of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. It grants degrees in medicine, and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. Dr. Dahlin received a host of professional honors, including the first gold medal of the International Skeletal Society, the Distinguished Pathologist Award of the United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology, the Fred Stewart Award from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Mayo Clinic, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Dahlin also was the first physician inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame
South Dakota Hall of Fame
The South Dakota Hall of Fame, a hall of fame in Chamberlain, South Dakota, honors those individuals who have contributed to the progress, way of life, and values of the State of South Dakota. The South Dakota Legislature named it the official hall of fame in 1996. The current facility opened in...
. He retired from active practice in 1983, but continued to serve as an informal consultant for some years thereafter.
Private life
Dr. Dahlin was married to his wife Helen for 49 years; she died of gallbladder carcinoma in 1990. The couple had 4 children together. Dahlin was an avid sportsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, camping, and handball.Death
In July 2003, Dahlin was interviewed for the U.S. Veterans History Project. Two months later, he contracted viral encephalitisEncephalitis
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue...
while on a camping trip at the age of 86. Dr. Dahlin died of that illness on September 12, 2003, and is buried next to his wife in Rochester, MN.