Walter Herman Ude, M.D. 1896-1956

Abstract

The profession of medicine, and particularly radiology, suffered a severe loss with the sudden passing on Feb. 9, 1956, of Dr. Walter Herman Ude, who succumbed to coronary thrombosis while vacationing in Honolulu with his wife, who survives him. Dr. Ude was born March 19, 1896, in Minnesota, and except for a period prior to his entrance into medical school when he served with the Armed Forces in France in World War I, spent his entire life in that state. Following his graduation from the University of Minnesota, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, Dr. Ude practiced medicine in Minneapolis for some thirty years. He entered the specialty of radiology as a student in 1926 and soon became an accomplished radiologist, completing his career as the senior member of the firm of Ude, Borman, Ahern, and Stone. In addition to his private practice, he acted at various times as roentgenologist to St. Andrews Hospital, the Eitel Hospital, and St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis. For many years he was chief, and in his last years consultant of the Department of Roentgenology of the Minneapolis General Hospital. He was a devoted teacher and had attained the rank of Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of Minnesota. It is notable that his last act before leaving for Honolulu was to lecture to the senior class at the University on obstetrical and gynecological radiology, a field to which he had contributed so much, A member of many medical associations, including local and national radiological societies, he took an active part in organized medicine. For many years he was a Councilor, and during the past year a Vice-President, of the Radiological Society of North America. His activities in the Minnesota campaign to stamp out tuberculosis were of great importance and he is cited by Dr. Jay Myers, in a book on this subject as having made many personal sacrifices and rendered valuable service working with physicians to demonstrate how to produce satisfactory films of the chest. As president of the Minnesota Radiological Society in 1937 and 1938, and as a member of the Committee on Tuberculosis of the State Medical Association, Dr. Ude cooperated fully with the Minnesota Public Health Association in regard to problems in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Dr. Ude's major scientific contribution was his original description, in 1934, of a method for the roentgenologic diagnosis of placenta previa, an important development in obstetrical management. He also was the author of papers on such subjects as diaphragmatic hernia, osteitis condensans ilii, early lobar pneumonia, and others. Walter Ude was a fine example of the physician who is a good citizen, taking an active part in the affairs of his community, while at the same time making an outstanding contribution to his own specialty. Above all, he was a man who loved and helped his family and friends to the full extent of his ability.