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Otorhinolaryngologists nominated for the Nobel Prize 1901–1940

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Abstract

Purpose

Several scholars with links to ENT have received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. This overview takes into account ENT Nobel nominees, who never received the award.

Methods

Drawing a comparison on the nominations collected in the archive of the Nobel Committee for physiology or medicine in Stockholm, the Nobel archive database and secondary literature; the paper analyzes for the first time the nominations of Hans Schmid (Stettin), Hermann Gutzmann (Berlin), Karl Wittmaack (Hamburg), and Chevalier Jackson (Chicago). We also bring up nomination letters written by prominent German nominators such as Hermann Schwartze (one of the founders of this journal) and August Lucae.

Results

Hans Schmid was the first surgeon to be brought up in a Nobel Prize nomination for an ENT procedure (1901), but since he had passed away 5 years earlier he was not evaluated by the Nobel Committee. Hermann Gutzmann was a strong candidate in 1917 and reached the shortlist because of his pioneering work on stutter, but no Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded that year. In the 1930′s, both Karl Wittmaack and Chevalier Jackson were repeatedly nominated for ENT research.

Conclusion

Nobel Prize nominations are to date underused sources that shed new light on some scholars in ENT history.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for the History, Philosophy, and Ethics of Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany

    Nils Hansson & Marie Drobietz

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Road, Stanford, CA, 94305-5739, USA

    Albert Mudry

Authors
  1. Nils Hansson
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  2. Marie Drobietz
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  3. Albert Mudry
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Correspondence to Nils Hansson.

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Hansson, N., Drobietz, M. & Mudry, A. Otorhinolaryngologists nominated for the Nobel Prize 1901–1940. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 1255–1258 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05833-y

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