Ruppert Beach Turnbull, Jr. 1913–1981

Abstract

Rupert Turnbull was born in Pasadena, California, October 3, 1913. An outstanding athlete, he represented the United States in Italy in 1932, winning the cup for the outboard hydroplane races.

He attended Pomona College, graduating in 1936, and received his medical degree from McGill University in 1940.

During World War II he served in the South Pacific as a field surgeon and then in China as Hospital Commander. After the was he elected to continue his surgical training at the Cleveland Clinic, ultimately joining the staff.

Turnbull began to develop an interest in colonic and rectal surgery, “inherting” the ostomy patients of his late chief, Tom Jones. Much of his early writings were on stomal problems and their management. He serendipitously discovered the value of karaya as a skin protector and codesigned the first postoperative pouch for ostomy patients. Through his encouragement the nursing specialty of enterostomal therapy was developed. In 1962 a convention was held in Cleveland; this was the impertus for the organization of the United Ostomy Association.

Turnbull contributed extensively to the medical literature, primarily wirting about the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and of cancer. With his colleague, Frank L. Weakley, he wrote the definitiveAtlas of Intestinal Stomas.

He received numerous honors and distinctions throughout his carrer, but the respect of his colleagues meant the most to him. He is remembered as the master surgeon, an innovative thinker, and as a compassionate human being. He died February 18, 1981.