From Nazi victim to honored scientist: The two lives of Jewish anatomist Harry Sicher (1889–1974)

Abstract

Harry Sicher (1889–1974), longtime professor at Loyola University Chicago, went down in medical history as a pioneering figure in the area of oral anatomy. His groundbreaking textbook “Oral Anatomy” (1949) was published in numerous languages and editions, becoming the most widely read standard work in its area internationally. This was also true for various other works Sicher authored: orthodontists sought his knowledge about cranial and facial growth, oral surgeons used his pioneering work on anatomy for practicing dental block anesthesia, and his work “Bone and Bones” was read by surgeons and orthopedists. By the end of his life, Sicher had accumulated an array of high-profile awards and honors that brought him a great deal of posthumous fame.One aspect of Sicher’s life that remains largely unknown is that the Vienna native was forced to flee the National Socialist regime on account of his Jewish ancestry, which took him to the United States via England. The present article investigates this facet of his life: What were the factors behind Sicher’s forced migration? How did this process unfold? Which factors were decisive for allowing him to develop an illustrious career in the United States despite facing adverse conditions?We approach these questions on the basis of comprehensive archival sources and contemporary printed material. What comes to light is that Sicher was forced to overcome significant setbacks before starting anew in the United States. This included his dismissal from the University of Vienna and subsequent dispossession in 1938, a failed attempt to find a position after settling in England in 1938/39, and the painful loss of his mother, who was deported to the Treblinka extermination camp in 1942.After assuming a new position at Loyola University in 1942, Sicher’s career in anatomy started an upward path of ever-increasing success. Four factors proved to be decisive in this development: Sicher’s strong motivation to learn, his exceptional teaching skills, the unique qualities of his research, and the dense academic network that he was able to connect with, which included other representatives of the “Vienna School”.