Leo George Rigler
Encyclopedia
Leo George Rigler was an American
radiologist remembered for describing Rigler's sign
.
, receiving a B.S. in 1917, B.M. in 1919 and M.D.
in 1920. He undertook his internship at the St. Louis
City Hospital where he watched pioneering radiologist Dr. Leroy Sante perform fluoroscopy, and realised the potential of this new technique. He worked as a general practitioner
in New England, North Dakota
, but returned to the University of Minnesota after a short time. He then worked as a teaching fellow
in internal medicine
for a year, becoming responsible for the radiology service. He then undertook a 3 year post as radiologist at the Minneapolis General Hospital. During this time he also trained in radiology at the Battle Creek Sanatorium and the University of Michigan
.
In 1924 he travelled to Europe
with funding from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He spent most of the year in Stockholm
at the Karolinska Institute
. On his return he was appointed associate professor of radiology at the age of 31, and became full professor two years later. He was certified by the American Board of Radiology in 1934, the 68th person to be recognised in this way. He founded a postgraduate radiology course in 1936. He became the first full time chairman of radiology at the University of Minnesota in 1933 at the age of 37, a position he held until 1957.
He then moved to California
, becoming the executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
until 1963. He then became professor of radiology at the University of California, Los Angeles
at the age of 67, and directed the postgraduate radiology training. He continued in this post until his death in 1979.
After the Second World War he worked with the World Health Organization
to improve clinical radiology in a number of countries including India
, Iran
and Israel
. He published over 200 articles and edited six books. The radiology research facility at UCLA was opened in 1971 and named the Leo G. Rigler Center for Radiological Sciences.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radiologist remembered for describing Rigler's sign
Rigler's sign
Rigler's sign, also known as the double wall sign, is seen on an x-ray of the abdomen when air is present on both sides of the intestine; a Rigler's sign is present when air is present on the inside and the outside...
.
Biography
Leo Rigler attended the University of MinnesotaUniversity 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...
, receiving a B.S. in 1917, B.M. in 1919 and M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1920. He undertook his internship at the St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
City Hospital where he watched pioneering radiologist Dr. Leroy Sante perform fluoroscopy, and realised the potential of this new technique. He worked as a general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in New England, North Dakota
New England, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 555 people, 266 households, and 155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,106.1 people per square mile . There were 320 housing units at an average density of 637.8 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.54%...
, but returned to the University of Minnesota after a short time. He then worked as a teaching fellow
Teaching fellow
A teaching fellow is a particular teaching role at some universities.-United States:In the USA a teaching fellow is an advanced graduate student who serves as the primary instructor for an undergraduate course...
in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
for a year, becoming responsible for the radiology service. He then undertook a 3 year post as radiologist at the Minneapolis General Hospital. During this time he also trained in radiology at the Battle Creek Sanatorium and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
In 1924 he travelled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with funding from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He spent most of the year in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
at the Karolinska Institute
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska institutet is a medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area, Sweden, and one of Europe's largest medical universities...
. On his return he was appointed associate professor of radiology at the age of 31, and became full professor two years later. He was certified by the American Board of Radiology in 1934, the 68th person to be recognised in this way. He founded a postgraduate radiology course in 1936. He became the first full time chairman of radiology at the University of Minnesota in 1933 at the age of 37, a position he held until 1957.
He then moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, becoming the executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
until 1963. He then became professor of radiology at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
at the age of 67, and directed the postgraduate radiology training. He continued in this post until his death in 1979.
After the Second World War he worked with the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
to improve clinical radiology in a number of countries including India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He published over 200 articles and edited six books. The radiology research facility at UCLA was opened in 1971 and named the Leo G. Rigler Center for Radiological Sciences.