Gunnar B. Stickler
Encyclopedia
Gunnar B. Stickler is a pediatrician who has made substantial contributions to the field of pediatrics
. He was the first scientist to describe a hereditary condition now known as Stickler syndrome
.
and died on November 4, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He attended the Wilhelmsgymnasium (Munich)
, Germany. Beginning in 1944, he studied medicine
at the universities of Vienna
, Erlangen
and Munich
. After graduation in 1949, he spent one year in clinical pathology
and one in pathologic anatomy
in Munich. In 1951 he emigrated to the USA after being accepted for an internship at the Mountainside Hospital
, Montclair, New Jersey
and subsequently for a fellowship in pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic
.
research scientist at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
in Buffalo, New York. In July 1958, he was appointed to the Staff of the Mayo Clinic in pediatrics. He was elected to the Society for Pediatric Research in 1962; he later served as the President of the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research. in 1967 he was named as an official examiner of the American Board of Pediatrics. He advanced in academic rank to Professor of Pediatrics in 1969; in November 1969 he was named Chair of the Section of Pediatrics. The Section was later named the Department of Pediatrics under Doctor Stickler's leadership in 1974 when Mayo Clinic combined the Sections of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology, when the Chair of the Section of Pediatric Cardiology James DuShane retired. Under his leadership, the Department pursued the establishment a neonatal intensive care unit and an adolescent unit at Saint Marys Hospital as well as clerkships in the new Mayo Medical School
. Doctor Stickler served on the Admissions Committee and the Medical School Coordinators Committee. Doctor Stickler also advanced primary pediatric care at Mayo Clinic as well as developed the subspecialty practices and pediatric research efforts at Mayo Clinic. He completed his term as Chair of the Department on March 31, 1980 and retired in the fall of 1989. He died unexpectantly at home from a stroke on November 4, 2010.
which at the time was staffed by members of the Mayo Clinic. The boy had bony enlargements of several joints and was extremely short sighted. His mother was totally blind. Dr Stickler discovered that there were other members of the family with similar symptoms. This prompted him to study the family. With colleagues he collaborated to define the condition, the results were published in June 1965. He tentatively named the condition hereditary progressive arthro-ophthalmopathy. Since the 1980s, this condition has become to be known as Stickler syndrome
. Throughout the years that followed he worked with patient-support groups such as the U.S. support group, Stickler Involved People, to help improve awareness of the syndrome and the need for early and expert intervention.
to parental worries.
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. He was the first scientist to describe a hereditary condition now known as Stickler syndrome
Stickler syndrome
Stickler syndrome is a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue, specifically collagen. It was first studied and characterized by Gunnar B. Stickler in 1965. Stickler syndrome is a subtype of collagenopathy, types II and XI...
.
Early life
Gunnar B. Stickler was born June 13, 1925 in Peterskirchen, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and died on November 4, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He attended the Wilhelmsgymnasium (Munich)
Wilhelmsgymnasium (Munich)
The Wilhelmsgymnasium of Munich is a school of academic secondary education. It is very famous for various reasons: it is the oldest grammar school in Munich; it has had several famous students; since 2004 it has been the only school in Bavaria that can claim to be a "Humanistisches Gymnasium";...
, Germany. Beginning in 1944, he studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the universities of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. After graduation in 1949, he spent one year in clinical pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
and one in pathologic anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
in Munich. In 1951 he emigrated to the USA after being accepted for an internship at the Mountainside Hospital
Mountainside Hospital
Mountainside Hospital is a community hospital located in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. The hospital has 365 beds and serves Northeastern Essex County. On May 31, 2007, it was purchased by Merit Health Systems, a privately-owned for-profit Louisville, Kentucky hospital management company which acquires,...
, Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
and subsequently for a fellowship in pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic
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...
.
Career
From 1953-56 he was a senior cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
research scientist at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a comprehensive cancer research and treatment center located in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1898 by Dr. Roswell Park, it was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States. The facility is involved in drug...
in Buffalo, New York. In July 1958, he was appointed to the Staff of the Mayo Clinic in pediatrics. He was elected to the Society for Pediatric Research in 1962; he later served as the President of the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research. in 1967 he was named as an official examiner of the American Board of Pediatrics. He advanced in academic rank to Professor of Pediatrics in 1969; in November 1969 he was named Chair of the Section of Pediatrics. The Section was later named the Department of Pediatrics under Doctor Stickler's leadership in 1974 when Mayo Clinic combined the Sections of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology, when the Chair of the Section of Pediatric Cardiology James DuShane retired. Under his leadership, the Department pursued the establishment a neonatal intensive care unit and an adolescent unit at Saint Marys Hospital as well as clerkships in the new Mayo Medical School
Mayo 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:...
. Doctor Stickler served on the Admissions Committee and the Medical School Coordinators Committee. Doctor Stickler also advanced primary pediatric care at Mayo Clinic as well as developed the subspecialty practices and pediatric research efforts at Mayo Clinic. He completed his term as Chair of the Department on March 31, 1980 and retired in the fall of 1989. He died unexpectantly at home from a stroke on November 4, 2010.
Stickler Syndrome
In 1960, a twelve year old boy was examined at a Crippled Children Clinic in Faribault, MinnesotaFaribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
which at the time was staffed by members of the Mayo Clinic. The boy had bony enlargements of several joints and was extremely short sighted. His mother was totally blind. Dr Stickler discovered that there were other members of the family with similar symptoms. This prompted him to study the family. With colleagues he collaborated to define the condition, the results were published in June 1965. He tentatively named the condition hereditary progressive arthro-ophthalmopathy. Since the 1980s, this condition has become to be known as Stickler syndrome
Stickler syndrome
Stickler syndrome is a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue, specifically collagen. It was first studied and characterized by Gunnar B. Stickler in 1965. Stickler syndrome is a subtype of collagenopathy, types II and XI...
. Throughout the years that followed he worked with patient-support groups such as the U.S. support group, Stickler Involved People, to help improve awareness of the syndrome and the need for early and expert intervention.
Other Accomplishments
Besides the landmark paper on hereditary progressive arthro-ophthalmopathy he has authored or co-authored some 200 scientific papers. He published a landmark paper published in Pediatrics in 1965 with Edward O'Connell and Robert Feldt on the importance of small head circumference and its association with mental retardation and short stature. He conducted a number of treatment trials of otitis media; this body of work eventually resulted in four publications and represented the first controlled treatment trial of otitis media in the United States. He has published extensively on pediatric nephrology, his chosen sub-speciality, and as well as a range of other pediatric problems from cyclic vomiting syndromeCyclic vomiting syndrome
Cyclic vomiting syndrome or cyclical vomiting syndrome is a condition whose symptoms are recurring attacks of intense nausea, vomiting and sometimes abdominal pain and/or headaches or migraines...
to parental worries.