At Mayo Clinic, throughout all its departments, there have been many projects and endeavors to record, collect and preserve the history of not only the Clinic but also those that have been a part of it. The Centennial Celebration of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine that occurred from 2024-2025 has been an example of that. Below you can read more about the history of the department and those that have been involved with it through their own words and the words of others described in biographies, memoirs, and vignettes.
Biographies
John Silas Lundy” by James Eckman, Ph.D., circa 1970s
Learn more about Dr. John S. Lundy and his career in this biography written by James Eckman. While working at Mayo Clinic James Eckman was a consultant in the Mayo Clinic Section of Publications, served at Mayo Clinic’s press officer, and was appointed the assistant professor of the history of medicine in the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education.
Memoirs
“Anesthesia its Mysteries” by Gerald A. Gronert, M.D., undated
Learn more about Dr. Gerald A. Gronert’s life and his time working at Mayo Clinic.
“From this Point in Time: Some Memories of my Part in the History of Anesthesia” by John S. Lundy, M.D., September 2, 1965
This paper was read by Dr. John S. Lundy at the meeting of the American Hospital Association in San Francisco, California that was held in 1965. In this paper, Dr. Lundy talks about his own life and his work in the specialty of anesthesiology.
“Incidents in my Life” by John W. Pender, M.D., undated
Learn more about Dr. John W. Pender’s life and his time working at Mayo Clinic.
“Mayo Clinic Visual History Project Mark Flaherty interviewing Dr. Frederic H. Helmholz, Jr and Dr. Emerson Ward” circa 2007
Learn more about Dr. Frederic H. Helmholz Jr.’s and Dr. Emerson Ward’s time at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Frederic H. Helmholz Jr was a member of the Mayo Aeromedical Unit and was a member of the Department of Physiology. Dr. Helmholz also oversaw the basal metabolism laboratory and of inhalation therapy. This memoir focuses on the following topics: the Mayo Brothers; a physiology study; aeromedicine; the Mayo-Gibbon heart-lung machine; oxygen therapy; Dr. Kendall; Dr. Hench; Dr. Chuck Mayo; the Mayo Medical School; President Lyndon Johnson, and Atherton Bean.
“Statement of Dr. John S. Lundy Seattle, Washington to Dr. Khalil G. Wakim Rochester, Minnesota” November 15, 1967
This statement was written by Dr. John S. Lundy and presented to Dr. Khalil G. Wakim. Dr. Wakim was a consultant in physiology and biophysics and professor of physiology at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education at the University of Minnesota. This statement focuses on the topic of experimentation in anesthesia.
“Statement of Dr. John S. Lundy Seattle, Washington to Dr. Khalil G. Wakim Rochester, Minnesota” November 15, 1967
This statement was written by Dr. John S. Lundy and presented to Dr. Waltman Walters. Dr. Walters served as the head of the Section of Surgery at Mayo Clinic. This statement focuses on the following topics: the blood bank at St. Mary’s Hospital, the recovery room, pentothal sodium, Nembutal, the anatomy laboratory, and intravenous therapy.
"The History of the Respiratory Service at Mayo Medical Center" by Bernard Gilles, CRNA, RRT, 1989; 1991
Read more about the history of the Respiratory Services at Mayo Clinic through reflections from Bernard Gilles, CRNA. Bernard Gilles was the primary supervisor of respiratory therapy at Mayo Clinic as it developed from the 1960s.
