Hugh Butt
Encyclopedia
Hugh Roland Butt was an American
physician
who developed methods to treat hemorrhaging patients with vitamin K
.
Butt was born in Belhaven, North Carolina
. He earned his M.D.
from the University of Virginia
in 1933 and a master's degree
in medicine from the University of Minnesota
in 1937.
Butt was a resident at the Mayo Clinic
when he made his most notable finding that Vitamin K stopped bleeding in patients with jaundice, previously a fatal condition. He later worked with dicumarol
isolated by Paul Link, and conducted the first human studies that demonstrated its blood thinning properties. He worked at the Mayo Clinic his entire career, including terms on both the board of governors and board of trustees and was widely considered the last link to its founders (he was supervised by William Mayo
). After becoming an Assistant Professor in 1943, Butt studied liver disease, especially cirrhosis
. He was appointed full professor in 1952, after which he began focusing on administrative issues. He was a leading advocate of continuing education
for doctors.
Butt served as president of the American College of Physicians
in 1971 and 1972, and retired in the 1980s. He died in Rochester, Minnesota
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who developed methods to treat hemorrhaging patients with vitamin K
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a group of structurally similar, fat soluble vitamins that are needed for the posttranslational modification of certain proteins required for blood coagulation and in metabolic pathways in bone and other tissue. They are 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives...
.
Butt was born in Belhaven, North Carolina
Belhaven, North Carolina
Belhaven is a town in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,968 at the 2000 census. Belhaven is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region....
. He earned his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1933 and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in medicine from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1937.
Butt was a resident 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...
when he made his most notable finding that Vitamin K stopped bleeding in patients with jaundice, previously a fatal condition. He later worked with dicumarol
Dicumarol
Dicoumarol or dicumarol is an anticoagulant that functions as a vitamin K antagonist . It is also used in biochemical experiments as an inhibitor of reductases....
isolated by Paul Link, and conducted the first human studies that demonstrated its blood thinning properties. He worked at the Mayo Clinic his entire career, including terms on both the board of governors and board of trustees and was widely considered the last link to its founders (he was supervised by William Mayo
William James Mayo
William James Mayo, M.D. was a physician in the United States and one of the seven founders of the Mayo Clinic. He and his brother, Charles Horace Mayo, both joined their father's private medical practice in Rochester, Minnesota, USA, after graduating from medical school in the 1880s...
). After becoming an Assistant Professor in 1943, Butt studied liver disease, especially cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
. He was appointed full professor in 1952, after which he began focusing on administrative issues. He was a leading advocate of continuing education
Continuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
for doctors.
Butt served as president of the American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is a national organization of doctors of internal medicine —physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illnesses in adults. With 130,000 members, ACP is the largest medical-specialty organization and second-largest physician group in...
in 1971 and 1972, and retired in the 1980s. He died in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
.