John H. Garlock, MD papers

John Garlock was born in New York City August 29, 1896. He was an excellent student, completing the course at Townsend Harris High School in three years. He graduated with highest honors in his class including the prizes in Latin, Greek, German, and Zoology and he was Valedictorian of his class. Following premedical preparation at the College of the City of New York, he attended Columbia University and then the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical society and graduated in 1919 with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine.

He then won the coveted appointment to the Surgical Service of Dr. Eugene Pool at New York Hospital.... Two years after completing his training as House Surgeon he was appointed Assistant Visiting Surgeon at New York Hospital in 1923, Instructor in Surgery at Columbia University in 1925, and shortly thereafter Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Cornell University Medical College. During those early years he was concerned chiefly with general surgery, traumatic surgery, plastic surgery, thyroid surgery, and the surgery of the hand.
In 1933 Dr. Garlock came to The Mount Sinai Hospital. He advanced rapidly through the Attending Staff ranks. Three and one half years later he was appointed Attending Surgeon and Chief of the Surgical Service. His was the opportunity to follow in the Mount Sinai tradition of gastrointestinal surgery. He gained extensive experience in the problems relating to the surgical treatment of peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, inflammatory diseases of the small and large bowel and surgery of the biliary tract, and contributed significantly to the literature of these fields.

In 1937 the esophagus was still in the ""No Man's Land"" of surgery. Dr. Garlock undertook the challenge of the surgical attack on cancer of this organ and of the gastric cardia. It was not long before his work in developing successful new techniques won him world-wide recognition as a pioneer contributor on this hitherto inaccessible area. During ensuing years his interest in the esophagus led him to gain extensive experience in the therapy of other esophageal lesions as well including hiatus hernia, esophagitis, stricture, diverticula and achalasia.

Dr. Garlock's contributions to the surgical literature number upwards of one hundred sixty-five publications including a monograph on the surgery of the hand and chapters on esophageal and intestinal surgery. His magnum opus, a book setting forth his extensive personal experience in the surgery of the alimentary tract, is to be published soon....

Dr. Garlock has the unique distinction of being a founding member of the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He was also a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the New York Surgical Society, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the New York Academy of Medicine. Other honors included an invitation to give the John Hunter Luck Lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons in London in 1947 and to address the French Academy of Surgery a few days later to present his work in the new surgical treatment of cancer of the esophagus and gastric cardia. For many years he was Clinical Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He was also a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor and a honorary member of the Brazilian College of Surgeons, the Surgical College of Chile and the Japanese Surgical Association.

...Dr. Garlock found time to develop interests in other fields. He served on various committees of the New York County Medical Society and served a term as its President. He was well known for his interest in music and was an accomplished pianist. In addition, he sponsored aid to indigent musicians and played an important part in launching the career of a well-known concert violinist. He also became adept as an amateur painter in oils and watercolors.

Dr. Garlock was for many years interested in the Hebrew University in Israel. He was a Trustee of the American Friends of the Hebrew University, and as Chairman of the American Jewish Physicians Committee he directed fund raising activities for several years. In his honor, an operating room in the Hadassah Hospital bears his name.