Historical perspectives of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery: David J. Dugan (1910-1998)

Abstract

David J. Dugan, the 56th president of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on June 29, 1910 (Figure 1). Growing up in the Midwest, he attended John Carroll University in Ohio, from which he graduated in 1932. He matriculated at St Louis University Medical School, receiving his doctorate in 1936. Interested in general surgery, he completed training at St John’s Hospital in Cleveland in 1939 and embarked on a career in private practice in Lakewood, Ohio. With the involvement of the United States in World War II and 2 years of general surgery practice experience, he entered the Armed Service in September 1942. Dugan was assigned to the thoracic surgery service under the direction of Brian Blades (37th AATS president) at Walter Reed General Hospital. On entering the Army, Dugan and 9 other medical officers were handed instructions for ‘‘Temporary Duty for a period of approximately 6 weeks for the purpose of pursuing a course of instruction in thoracic surgery’’ at the University of Pennsylvania. It is by this route that Dugan began his training in thoracic surgery, a specialty that he ‘‘barely knew existed’’ and a specialty choice that was unsolicited and was ‘‘explained only by the unpredictable wisdom of the United States Army.’’ When the United States entered World War II, thoracic surgery was not yet considered a distinct specialty. Because of its undefined status during theWar, no consultant specializing in thoracic surgerywas formally appointed in any oversea theater. On the basis of subsequent surgical outcomes of the famed Second Auxiliary Surgical Group in the Mediterranean and European theaters, Lyman A. Brewer III (54th AATS president), Paul C. Samson (48th AATS president), Thomas H. Burford (51st AATS president), and others made a compelling case for the establishment of thoracic surgery as a distinct specialty. In the United States, the situation was different. By 1938, the AATS had 14 honorary members, 99 active members, 69 associate members, and 30 senior members. Largely from this AATS group, active and associate members were selected