Thorstein Guthe
Encyclopedia
Thorstein Guthe was a Norwegian physician and Olympic fencer
.
as a son of tailor Hans O. Guthe (1869–1929) and Hilda Kathrine Helgesen (1876–1950). In 1950 he married Karen Hedevig Schjødt, a daughter of Annæus Schjødt
, granddaughter of Annæus J. Schjødt and sister of Annæus Schjødt, Jr
.
He competed in the team foil
and individual épée events at the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
He finished his secondary education in 1930. After studies in bacteriology
in London
from 1933 to 1934 and Paris
from 1934 to 1935, he took the cand.med.
degree at the University of Oslo
in 1939. He then studied internal medicine
at the University of Minnesota
from 1939 to 1940. During the Second World War he was the head physician in Little Norway
from 1940 to 1941, then at the Health Office for Seamen in New York City
from 1941 to 1943. He then worked at the Norwegian embassy in the United States for one year, then the Ministry of Social Affairs-in-exile from 1944 to 1945. After the war he studied at the Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore from 1946 to 1947.
from 1947, and was a physician for the World Health Organization
in Geneva
from 1948 to 1956. In 1956 he was promoted to chief physician in the department of treponematosis
. He also worked with combatting the disease yaws
. In 1963 he was acting director of infectious diseases in the World Health Organization. In 1971 he was hired in the private sector as corporate chief physician of Elkem
.
He was decorated as a Knight of the Order of St. Olav. He died in June 1994 in Oslo.
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
.
Personal life and early career
He was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of tailor Hans O. Guthe (1869–1929) and Hilda Kathrine Helgesen (1876–1950). In 1950 he married Karen Hedevig Schjødt, a daughter of Annæus Schjødt
Annæus Schjødt
Annæus Schjødt was a Norwegian lawyer. He is best known as the prosecutor of Vidkun Quisling.-Personal life:...
, granddaughter of Annæus J. Schjødt and sister of Annæus Schjødt, Jr
Annæus Schjødt, Jr.
-Personal life:He was born in Aker as a son of Annæus Schjødt and Hedevig Schjødt, née Petersen . He was a grandson of Attorney General Annæus J. Schjødt. His sister Karen Hedevig Schjødt married chief physician Thorstein Guthe....
.
He competed in the team foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
and individual épée events at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
He finished his secondary education in 1930. After studies in bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1933 to 1934 and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1934 to 1935, he took the cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1939. He then studied 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...
at 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...
from 1939 to 1940. During the Second World War he was the head physician in Little Norway
Little Norway
The Flyvåpnenes Treningsleir , the official name) or "Little Norway" was a Norwegian Army Air Service/Royal Norwegian Air Force training camp in Canada during the Second World War.-Origins:...
from 1940 to 1941, then at the Health Office for Seamen in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1941 to 1943. He then worked at the Norwegian embassy in the United States for one year, then the Ministry of Social Affairs-in-exile from 1944 to 1945. After the war he studied at the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, Baltimore from 1946 to 1947.
Later career
He was a consultant for the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1947, and was a physician for 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...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
from 1948 to 1956. In 1956 he was promoted to chief physician in the department of treponematosis
Treponematosis
Treponematosis is a term used to collectively or individually describe any of the diseases caused by the bacterial species Treponema pallidum. There are four subspecies described which cause the following diseases:* Syphilis...
. He also worked with combatting the disease yaws
Yaws
Yaws is a tropical infection of the skin, bones and joints caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum pertenue...
. In 1963 he was acting director of infectious diseases in the World Health Organization. In 1971 he was hired in the private sector as corporate chief physician of Elkem
Elkem
Elkem is one of Norway's largest industrial companies, and one of the world's leading suppliers of metals and materials. The company's main products are aluminium, energy and silicon as well as specialised products such as ferrosilicon to foundries, microsilica and carbon...
.
He was decorated as a Knight of the Order of St. Olav. He died in June 1994 in Oslo.