George W. Thorn

George Widmer Thorn (January 15, 1906 - June 26, 2004) was an American physician whose contributions led to new treatments of kidney diseases and adrenal gland disorders, most notably Addison's disease.[1][2] Thorn was Chief of Medicine at Boston's Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, presently known as Brigham and Women's Hospital. Thorn pioneered the use of cortisone for treating Addison's disease,[2] and devised an early test for this disease, now known as the Thorn test.[1] His research of cortisone and ACTH led to new treatments of other diseases such as hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.[1]

He participated in the first successful kidney transplant in the 1950s.[2] Thorn was a founding editor and editor-in-chief of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.[2] He was a professor at Harvard Medical School, and held a number of other teaching positions at other schools.[1]

In 1959 he was awarded the Banting Medal.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d Krug, Nora (July 18, 2004). "George Thorn, 98, Pioneer In Addison's Disease, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "In Memoriam George W. Thorn, 1906-2004" (Press release). Howard Hughes Medical Institute. July 1, 2004. Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  3. ^ Thorn, George W.; Renold, Albert E.; Cahill, George F. (1959). "The Adrenal and Diabetes: Some Interactions and Interrelations: The Banting Memorial Lecture 1959". Diabetes. 8 (5): 337–351. doi:10.2337/diab.8.5.337. PMID 13838198. S2CID 5502786.