Excellence in Exile: German Emigré Physicians at TUSM

Joseph Igersheimer, M.D. (1879-1965) 

Having completed his medical education in 1904, Dr. Igersheimer became full professor at Heidelberg in 1914, "Extraordinary Professor" in 1920, and full professor at the University of Frankfurt in 1926. [1]  "While in forced exile from Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1939, Joseph Igersheimer was the architect of modern ophthalmology in Turkey. Earlier he was a pioneer in addressing the impact of syphilis on eyesight. He was the first to use arsphenamine in the treatment of syphilis of the eye and the first to operate on retinal detachment by closing the holes. In 1939 he joined Tufts University's Medical School and became a major contributor to America's ophthalmology. By the time of his retirement, over 2000 American ophthalmologists had listened to his lectures." [2]

Learn more about Dr. Joseph Igersheimer at  Citizendium.

References

[1]  Namal, A. and A. Reisman. Joseph Igersheimer (1879-1965): a visionary ophthalmologist and his contributions before and after exile. J Med Biogr. 2007 Nov;15(4):227-34.

[2] Reisman, Arnold.  Turkey's Modernization:  Refugees from Nazism and Ataturk's Vision  (Washington DC: New Academic, 2006): 154.

Image credit: U.S. National Library of Medicine