Professor of surgery at the University of Illinois. Mentioned in the 1950-02-14-01 and 1950-02-14-02 Minutes of the Pima County Medical Society, 1904-1954. President of the Chicago Medical Society.
JAMA, May 1991; 265: 2268: COLE, Warren H., 92, Asheville, NC; Washington University School of Medicine, 1920; certified by the American Board of Surgery; died May 25,1990.
JAMA, May 1991; 265: 2259: Warren H. Cole, MD, professor emeritus of surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, died in his 92nd year on May 25,1990, in Asheville, NC. He was internationally known for his introduction of the tetraiodophenolphthalein test for disease of the biliary system. This landmark discovery -- reported in concert with his mentor, Evarts A. Graham -- was for decades the diagnostic foundation for radiologic investigation of gallbladder disease. Displacement of the original technique by other radiopaque agents and by newer imaging modalities has not dimmed the luster of this 1923 discovery. Born July 24,1898, Warren Cole was raised on a farm in Clay Center, Kan. He grew up with a strong work ethic, which he would later convey to hundreds of house officers who came under his calm but strong guidance during the 30 years he was chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Illinois in Chicago. After completing college and 2 years of medical school at the University of Kansas, Warren Cole transferred to Washington University in St Louis to avail himself of its superior clinical facilities. The move also led to a lifelong friendship with his classmate Alton Ochsner and to a year's experience in internal medicine at the Baltimore City Hospitals under Dr Thomas R. Boggs, a disciple of Osier's. Aided by his year in medicine, Cole was accepted in 1921 as a surgical intern by Evarts Graham in St Louis and remained as a house officer and faculty member under Graham for 15 years. His research in orthopedics, unusual infections, thyroid disease, and most of all, cholecystography, led to several offers of academic positions, culminating in his agreement to become the first full-time chairman of surgery at Illinois in 1936. Building on the work of strong clinical predecessors such as J. B. Murphy and Carl Hedblom, Cole reoriented his department vigorously toward experimental research and teaching, including the publication of a textbook of general surgery with Robert Elman, his former surgical associate at Washington University. He trained numerous surgeons, many of whom have gone on to hold high academic positions. In addition, he was active in every major national surgical society, becoming president of the Society of University Surgeons, the American Surgical Association, and the American College of Surgeons. He was also active in national committees and commissions dealing with education, research, and cancer, the disease that remained a focus of his productive research. Beyond the list of honors and achievements, Dr Cole merited in an outstanding way the affection of his students, residents, and fellows, who, in 1959, formed the Warren H. Cole Society. Among its 300 associates are distinguished surgeons from throughout the world. In 1987, he established the Warren H. and Clara Cole Foundation, to foster research at the University of Illinois, in addition to the Cole Fund at the American College of Surgeons. Upon retiring to Asheville, NC, in 1966, he maintained a vigorous schedule of editing, teaching, and lecturing nationally and internationally. His sudden death occurred at night after an active day. He is survived by Clara, his wife of 42 years. A definitive biography by Dennis Connaughton, former editor of the American College of Surgeons Bulletin, is being published by the Warren H. and Clara Cole Foundation. --C. Rollins Hanlon, MD [includes photo]
JAMA, May 1991; 265: 2268: COLE, Warren H., 92, Asheville, NC; Washington University School of Medicine, 1920; certified by the American Board of Surgery; died May 25,1990.
JAMA, May 1991; 265: 2259: Warren H. Cole, MD, professor emeritus of surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, died in his 92nd year on May 25,1990, in Asheville, NC. He was internationally known for his introduction of the tetraiodophenolphthalein test for disease of the biliary system. This landmark discovery -- reported in concert with his mentor, Evarts A. Graham -- was for decades the diagnostic foundation for radiologic investigation of gallbladder disease. Displacement of the original technique by other radiopaque agents and by newer imaging modalities has not dimmed the luster of this 1923 discovery. Born July 24,1898, Warren Cole was raised on a farm in Clay Center, Kan. He grew up with a strong work ethic, which he would later convey to hundreds of house officers who came under his calm but strong guidance during the 30 years he was chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Illinois in Chicago. After completing college and 2 years of medical school at the University of Kansas, Warren Cole transferred to Washington University in St Louis to avail himself of its superior clinical facilities. The move also led to a lifelong friendship with his classmate Alton Ochsner and to a year's experience in internal medicine at the Baltimore City Hospitals under Dr Thomas R. Boggs, a disciple of Osier's. Aided by his year in medicine, Cole was accepted in 1921 as a surgical intern by Evarts Graham in St Louis and remained as a house officer and faculty member under Graham for 15 years. His research in orthopedics, unusual infections, thyroid disease, and most of all, cholecystography, led to several offers of academic positions, culminating in his agreement to become the first full-time chairman of surgery at Illinois in 1936. Building on the work of strong clinical predecessors such as J. B. Murphy and Carl Hedblom, Cole reoriented his department vigorously toward experimental research and teaching, including the publication of a textbook of general surgery with Robert Elman, his former surgical associate at Washington University. He trained numerous surgeons, many of whom have gone on to hold high academic positions. In addition, he was active in every major national surgical society, becoming president of the Society of University Surgeons, the American Surgical Association, and the American College of Surgeons. He was also active in national committees and commissions dealing with education, research, and cancer, the disease that remained a focus of his productive research. Beyond the list of honors and achievements, Dr Cole merited in an outstanding way the affection of his students, residents, and fellows, who, in 1959, formed the Warren H. Cole Society. Among its 300 associates are distinguished surgeons from throughout the world. In 1987, he established the Warren H. and Clara Cole Foundation, to foster research at the University of Illinois, in addition to the Cole Fund at the American College of Surgeons. Upon retiring to Asheville, NC, in 1966, he maintained a vigorous schedule of editing, teaching, and lecturing nationally and internationally. His sudden death occurred at night after an active day. He is survived by Clara, his wife of 42 years. A definitive biography by Dennis Connaughton, former editor of the American College of Surgeons Bulletin, is being published by the Warren H. and Clara Cole Foundation. --C. Rollins Hanlon, MD [includes photo]
Master pnID
AMH-PN0673
Src2 PCMSMin
PCMS-Min
PCMS pnID
pn0184
Residence(s)
Chicago IL