Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Ernst Bertner: A Surgeon with Prescient Vision for the Largest Medical Center in the World

  • Global Health Services Research
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

More than 75 years ago, surgeon Ernst Bertner envisioned the Texas Medical Center (TMC) as “breathtaking in the scope and breadth of its conception,” that would be “one of the largest in the world”; a gigantic medical enterprise that would “attract the greatest scientists of the world” and would combine patient care, research, and education, on a scale that was “second to none.” During the next 3 years, Bertner accomplished important pieces of the Herculean task to bring onto the campus 11 major buildings, including the University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research, for which he was the interim director. This was an extraordinary accomplishment because at the outset he had only a strategic plan, the deed to 134 acres of forest, and financial support from the MD Anderson Foundation! Bertner further forecasted world-class clinical and educational programs in the TMC, stating: “We envision the time when the Medical Center will become a great magnet, drawing leaders in education, medicine, and dental professions. It will provide the physical facilities and the environment in which research will flourish and bring forth for all of us new discoveries in the field of medicine.” So how did his bold vision and passionate leadership culminate in the TMC today? By any criteria of scale and program excellence, the TMC today can be regarded as the largest medical center in the world. Occupying a contiguous campus of 1345 acres (2.1 square miles), it comprises 162 buildings, 60+ member institutions, 21 hospitals (> 9200 beds), 21 academic institutions, 4 medical schools, 7 nursing schools, 3 public health schools, 2 pharmacy schools, and a dental school. More than 106,000 patients and visitors come daily to the TMC, which has more than 120,000 employees, including 5000 physicians, 5700 researchers, and 11,000 registered nurses. Ernst Bertner is credited for transforming the original vision of the TMC into a workable program, and whose dynamic devotion to the idea captured the devotion of others to accomplish this extraordinary feat. Thus, during this short interval from 1946 to 1950, Bertner transitioned the leadership of the MD Anderson Cancer Hospital to Dr. R. Lee Clark, conducted a busy general surgery and gynecologic practice, facilitated the monumental transfer of the Baylor Medical School from Dallas to Houston, helped to recruit Dr. Michael DeBakey from New Orleans, and fought a heroic battle against rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Located in Greenwich Village in New York City, St Vincent’s was one of the oldest Hospitals in America, along with Bellevue Hospital several blocks away. Both hospitals had a national reputation and attracted highly qualified interns and resident physicians. Many of the leading surgeons in New York City operated at both hospitals.

  2. Jesse H. Jones was a “multimillionaire” in 1913 as a banker, real estate developer, and capitalist, who had built many of the buildings in downtown Houston, including the Rice Hotel. He served fourteen years in Washington (1933-1947) in key roles for Presidents Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. He held the purse strings for nearly $50 billion dollars leading the nation’s Reconstruction Finance Corporation (FTC) and was named by Franklin Roosevelt as U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1940 and 1945 before returning to Houston in 1947.

  3. Dr. George Stewart was a leading surgeon in New York City, practicing at Bellevue and St Vincent’s Hospital. He was Professor and Head of Surgery at New York University Medical College, and later became President of the American College of Surgeons from 1927 to 1928.

  4. The famous Rice Hotel, an 18 story “skyscraper” opened in 1913 with 525 rooms and later expanded to 1000 rooms in 1925. It was home on the top floors to many Houston dignitaries, including Dr Bertner and his wife Julia, and the Anderson trustees, John Freeman and Col. William Bates (Figure S2).

  5. John J Pershing was one of the great military generals of the 20th century. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front during World War I, from 1917 to 1918. His troops defeated the Germans in major battles that led to the Germans to seek an armistice ending the war on November 11, 1918.

  6. Harvey Cushing became surgeon-in-chief at Harvard and John M.T. Finney from Johns Hopkins was the first President of the American College of Surgeons from 1913 to 1916. Hugh Young is regarded as “the Father of Urology” and was a personal urologist to President Woodrow Wilson. Edward L. Keyes Jr. was one of the most prominent urologists in the early 20th Century.

  7. Young was the first to perform radical prostatectomies (with William Halsted assisting him), was a charter member and past president of the American Urological Association (1909) and was the Founding Editor of the Journal of Urology. Cullen was one of the first to perform radical gynecological surgery and was the first chair of the Cancer Campaign Committee of the American College of Surgeons, which years later became the Commission on Cancer).37

  8. Describing the war’s effects on cancer control, Dr. Frank Adair, then president of the American Cancer Society and Chair of the Cancer Committee for the American College of Surgeons, stated: "due to the fact that approximately 40% of our doctors are in the Armed Forces, many sections of our population are left with greatly reduced medical attention".45

  9. Oil wildcatter Hugh Roy Cullen, one of the richest men in America in the 1940s and 1950s, was a major philanthropist in Houston, donated or pledged more than $160,000,000 to educational or charitable institutions.

  10. Throughout his career, Doctor Bertner had many leadership roles that made him an ideal candidate for this leadership role. He also served as Chairman of the Department of Gynecology at Baylor University School of Medicine., Chief of the Gynecologic Service at Hermann Hospital, past president of the Texas State Medical Association, Past president of the Harris County Medical Society, Vice President of the American Cancer Society (National), past president of the Texas Surgical Society, and past president of Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.76,77,78

  11. The War Production Board (WPB) was established in January 1942 with two purposes: (1) to convert the factories of peacetime industries into manufacturing plants for weapons and military equipment, and (2) to conserve (i.e.: ration) materials, like metal, rubber, paper and plastic, which would be needed for military use. All non-military construction was essentially halted, including medical facilities, without approval from the WPB.

  12. Judson L. Taylor, MD, was a surgeon of national fame, having served as a founding member of the American Board of Surgery and the first Chair of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

  13. Approximately $1.5 billion present value in 2023!

References

  1. Bertner EW. Commencement address to UT School of Dentistry Class, June 10, 1946. P2 McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 3.30.

  2. Bertner EW. “Dedication of the Texas Medical Center.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 1, 1946.

  3. Bertner’s speech at the dedication dinner for receiving the deed of the land from the MD Anderson Foundation) February 28, 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 3.30.

  4. “Medical Center Held Fulfillment of Dreams.” Houston Chronicle. March 2, 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.385.3, page 1.

  5. “Spending $100,000,000 on Medical Center planned.” Houston Chronicle, page 1. February 24, 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.3. “The Texas Medical Center will be erected here at a cost expected to reach $100 million… It was announced Saturday by Doctor E. W. Bertner, President of the Texas Medical Center, Inc… Doctor Bertner estimated that ultimately the center will contain 50 buildings in addition to 22 housing units, a Community Center, and nonsectarian Chapel.”

  6. Balch CM. The politics of recruiting Dr. R. Lee Clark Jr. as the first permanent director of The University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research. Part II. The process and politics of recruiting Lt. Colonel R. Lee Clark Jr. to the MD Anderson Hospital. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022;29:744–5.

    Google Scholar 

  7. “Vital Units in Great Medical Center.” Houston Chronicle. April 28, 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.3.

  8. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades, p. 29. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III, III.13.8.

  9. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. College Station: A&M University Press; 2014. p. 136–7.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bertner EW. The Future of the Texas Medical Center. Texas State J Med. 1946;41:625–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy, p. 122.

  12. TMC Profile. Horace C. Wilkins, Houston Academy of Medicine.

  13. Bates-Freeman Day. March 3, 1977. Dedication of the Bates-Freeman Research Building at MD Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.10.7.

  14. Keller WH. Introduction to the Birth of the Texas Medical Center: A Personal Account by Frederick C. Elliott. College Station: Texas A&M Publisher; 2004. p. 14–18.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ibid. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades. p 29.

  16. Seybold WD. Interview with Anna Hanselman. May 16, 1970, p 6. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63.7.

  17. Macon DN. Monroe Dunaway Anderson. His Legacy. Houston: Texas Medical Center Publishing; 1994. p. 142–3.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Johnston ME. “Bertner Sees Hope for Cancer Cure As Medical Center Is Dedicated.” Houston Post. March 1, 1946, page 1. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.3.

  19. E. W. Bertner, Presentation at a dinner for Texas Governor Shivers. September 12, 1949.

  20. Seybold W. Interview with Mr. Robert Shepard about Dr Bertner’s childhood. McGovern Historical Center. MS 004. Box 63; File 6. p 2. Colorado City where “Billy” Bertner grew up was considered as the largest shipping point in the United States for sheep and cattle, and other goods to West Texas. For many years, Colorado City was the largest town in West Texas between Fort Worth and El Paso.

  21. Seybold WD. “E. W. Bertner MD. Cancer Fighter and First President of the Texas Medical Center.” Texas Surgical Society Presidential Address. October 4, 1971 McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 78.10.

  22. Flexner A. Medical Education in the United States and Canada: A Report to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Carnegie Foundation, New York, NY. Bulletin no. 4, 1910. Flexner described the University of Texas Branch in Galveston in November 1909 as having 26 faculty, 206 students, “admirable” laboratories, and a University Hospital of 155 beds. He noted that UTMB was the only one of the four medical schools in Texas that required a minimum 4-year high school education. Flexner concluded that UTMB was the “ only one medical school in the state fit to continue in the work of training physicians.”

  23. “Dr. E. W. Bertner Dies of Cancer.” Houston Chronicle. July 28, 1950. P1,10. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 1.6. “Bertner chose St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York for his internship, a hospital that had a long waiting list and admitted interns only after a stiff examination.”

  24. Moursund WH Sr. History of Baylor University College of Medicine 1900 to 1953. Privately printed in 1956. p 176. McGovern Historical Center Series 004. Box 63:6.

  25. Macon HD. Monroe Dunaway Anderson. His Legacy. Houston: Texas Medical Center Publishing; 1994. p. 86.

    Google Scholar 

  26. William Seybold interview with Julia Bertner. May 14, 1971. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63.6.

  27. Ibid. Moursund WH Sr. History of Baylor University College of Medicine. p 176.

  28. Barr J. The education of American surgeons and the rise of surgical residencies, 1930–1960. J History Med Allied Sci. 2018; 73:274–302. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhmas/jrx058 Advance Access Publication: February 2, 2018. Internship, a formal year of education in the hospital after medical school, did provide some instruction. In 1900, fewer than fifty percent of American physicians pursued any post-graduate training, but internships became more common such that by 1923 U.S. hospitals offered positions to every graduating doctor

  29. The Bulletin of the Harris County Medical Society, September 13, 1913, announces, “Dr. E. W. Bertner, a graduate of the University of Texas, 1911, who finished two year’s hospital work in New York City, has located in Houston at 412 Carter Building.”

  30. Cumley R. McCay J (eds). The First Twenty Years of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson,University of Texas Printing Division, Austin Texas. p 21.

  31. Young H. A Surgeon’s Autobiography. Harcourt, Brace and Co., New York, NY, 1940, pp 288–93. Retrieved at https://archive.org/details/b29976972, pp 288–95. In his memoir, Young recalled: “In casting about for a medical officer of considerable experience with fighting forces, I decided to ask for the transfer of Lieutenant E. W. Bertner from the BEF [British Expeditionary Forces]. I had met him in Paris while working on the Manual of Military Urology. He would have received the Victoria Cross had the United States Army regulations permitted foreign decorations. He still suffered from severe gassing [the Germans were using sulfur mustard gas]. In a short time, Major Keyes and Captain Bertner had systemized the work of the Division of Urology. Much of the smooth operation and splendid accomplishments of the organization were due to their efforts. Bertner’s “Newsletter” went out monthly to all officers in the Division of Urology. It consisted of four mimeographed pages, the first two devoted to the records of various organizations in the prevention of venereal and skin diseases; comments on new plans and procedures; and a pep talk to cheer up the urologist with the fighting forces… Young wrote about the venereal disease problem he was assigned to treat and prevent. The magnitude of the problem was illustrated by his entry on August 11, 1917: “The British send all venereal cases to base hospitals in France or in England and 18,000 men or more are away from their organization.” The problem was similar among the American and French troops.

  32. William Seybold WD. Oral interview with Dr. Charles S. Gates about Dr. Bertner, June 5, 1971. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63.6.

  33. Seybold WD. Interview with Anna Hanselman, May 16, 1970. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers. MS 004, 63.7. Bertner and the dentist Ralph Cooley were good friends. “After he came back from Johns Hopkins… he gave up obstetrics, except for Ralph Cooley’s kids. He and Ralph Cooley the dentist painted the town red when they were young… I think that Denton might have been the last baby Dr. Bertner delivered.”

  34. Cooley DA. 100,000 Hearts: A Surgeon’s Memoir. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press; 2012. p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bertner brief biography, 1945. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 1.1.

  36. Ibid. Hugh Young. A Surgeon’s Autobiography. pp 76, 240. Hugh Young did all his surgical training under William Halsted, during which time he also worked with Harvey Cushing. There was no specialization in urology at the time, so Halsted created it, telling Young one day in October 1897: “I want you to take charge of the Department of Genito-Urinary Surgery.” I thanked him and said: “This is a great surprise. I know nothing about genitourinary surgery.” Whereupon Dr Halsted replied: “[William] Welch and I said you didn’t know anything about it, but we believe you could learn.”

  37. Robinson J. Tom Cullen of Baltimore. Oxford University Press. New York and London, 1949. Cullen was a pioneer in the development of gynecological pathology. He trained under Howard Kelly (one of “the Big Four” leaders of Hopkins–Osler, Welch, Kelley, and Halsted. He rose through the ranks at Hopkins, becoming a professor of clinical gynecology in 1919 and professor of gynecology in 1932. His book on gynecology was the standard text for years. When Kelly retired in 1919, Cullen became the Gynecologist-in-Chief. He chooses to have his program housed in the Department of Surgery under William Halsted, and not be absorbed by Prof Whitridge Williams, the powerful Chief of Obstetrics who wanted to combine the two specialties into a single Department (pp 294–6). He wrote a spirited defense of this logic that gynecology and abdominal surgery belong together, stating “any surgeon opening the abdomen should be capable of doing everything in the abdomen” (p 263).

  38. Macon ND. Mr. John Freeman and Friends, A Story of the Texas Medical Center and How it Began. Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, pp 37, 49.

  39. “Noted Doctor is Honored in Houston.” Houston Chronicle (or Post) unknown date between 1932 and 1935. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 1.22. “Dr. Young, a native of San Antonio, is a close friend of Dr Bertner, with whom he served as a member of Gen. John Pershing’s staff during the World War.”

  40. Autographed print of Dr. Thomas S. Cullen . Handwritten note: “To my friend Dr. E. W. Bertner. With warm personal regards. Thomas S. Cullen. 1943." McGovern Historical Center MS 002 Bertner papers 1.34.

  41. Editorial. “Dr. Bertner Honored.” Houston Post. December 21, 1935. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63.6. “The selection of Dr. E. W. Bertner as chief of staff at Hermann Hospital provides another reminder of the high type of medical service which is made available to charity patients in Houston through the generosity of the city’s leading physicians. Physicians and surgeons like Dr Bertner devote many days of their time to charity practice at Hermann and Jefferson Davis Hospitals, lavishing as much care and skill upon unfortunate men and women who cannot pay as in cases where they are assured large fees.”

  42. Hermann Hospital Surgery logbooks December 1, 1947 to September 26, 1948, McGovern Historical Center.

  43. Balch CM. The surgical legacy of Randolph Lee Clark Jr: first Surgeon-in-Chief and Director of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center I: training and surgical practice before recruitment to University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021;28:4782–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Miller CA, A Time for All Things. Oxford University Press, London, 2020, pp 148–97.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Cumley R, McCay J (eds). The First Twenty Years of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. University of Texas Press; Austin, TX, 1964, p 128.

  46. Bates WB. Speech before the Post Graduate Medical Assembly. November 29, 1949. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.152.2.

  47. “Anderson Foundation Backing New Hospitals.” Houston Chronicle. March 1945. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.2.

  48. Ibid. Macon HD. Monroe Dunaway Anderson: His Legacy. p 72.

  49. Greenwood J Jr. Monroe Dunaway Anderson, benefactor of medicine and mankind. Texas State J Med. 1965;61:414–9.

    Google Scholar 

  50. William Seybold interview with Mr. John H. Freeman about Doctor E. W. Bertner. April 8, 1971. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.153.2 and William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63.6.

  51. Ibid. Macon ND. Mr. John Freeman and Friends, pp. 36–7.

  52. Ibid. Macon H. Don. Monroe Dunaway Anderson: His Legacy. p 88.

  53. Ibid. Macon H. Don. Monroe Dunaway Anderson: His Legacy. p 90.

  54. Ibid. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades. p 7.

  55. Johnson SC. “Voters Will Decide on City Land Sale. Foundation Seeks Site for Large Medical Center. Houston Chronicle. April 3, 1943 McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.3.6).

  56. “Deal Closed Between City, Foundation. Total of $323,820 Paid for Site in Hermann Park to Be Used for Medical Center. Houston Chronicle. April 20, 1944.

  57. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. pp 113–5.

  58. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades. p 19.

  59. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 93.

  60. Ibid. Macon H. Don. Monroe Dunaway Anderson: His Legacy. p 102–4.

  61. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. pp 115–16.

  62. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 126.

  63. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 109.

  64. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 196.

  65. Ibid. Macon H. Don. Monroe Dunaway Anderson: His Legacy. p 104.

  66. Texas Medical Center document prepared by the Publicity Department, Houston Chamber of Commerce. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.1.14 and X.42.5.

  67. “Cullens gives $1,000,000 for New Hospital. $3,000,000 in Gifts to Hermann, Methodist and Memorial Is Followed by Grant to Episcopalians. Houston Chronicle. March 7, 1945. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.2.

  68. “House Okays Cancer Fund. Bill Goes to Governor After Favorable Vote Follows Heated Debate.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, p 10. June 25, 1941.

  69. Ibid. Macon H. Don. Monroe Dunaway Anderson: His Legacy. p 84.

  70. Macon ND. South from Flower Mountain: A Conversation with William B Bates. Houston: Texas Medical Center Publishing; 1975. p. 60–1.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Regents Minutes Approving Donation of Baker Estate from the MD Anderson Foundation, August 8, 1942. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.36.8.

  72. Ibid. Balch CM. The Politics of Recruiting Dr. R. Lee Clark Jr. As the First Permanent Director of The University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research: Part I. p 725–6.

  73. “Regents Decide to Make a Clean Sweep of Med School Heads.” Austin American Statesman. Sunday, August 2, 1942. p 1.

  74. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. pp 85–8.

  75. Elliott FC. The Birth of the Texas Medical Center: A Personal Account. College Station: Texas A&M Publisher; 2004. p. 69–75.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Bertner EW. Application for membership in the Southern Surgical Association. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.105.20.

  77. Ibid. Moursund WH Sr. History of Baylor University College of Medicine 1900 to 1953. p 176.

  78. Texas Cancer Triangle. Official Newspaper of the American Cancer Society, Texas Division. November 7, 1949. p 2. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 1.4. “Dr Ernst Bertner, Vice-President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Cancer Society, Texas Division, was awarded the first annual American Cancer Society Medal for Distinguished Service. . . . The national organization elected him as National Vice-President.”

  79. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 94.

  80. Ibid. Cumley R. McCay J (eds). The First Twenty Years of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. p 29. “At this point, the new institution almost foundered. In fact, when a university budget official person came to Houston, he looked over the situation and asserted: “I’ll not allow another damn cent to be spent on this project.”

  81. Ibid. Cumley R. McCay J (eds). The First Twenty Years of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. p 50.

  82. Ibid. Elliott FC, The Birth of the Texas Medical Center: A Personal Account. p 78.

  83. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. pp 117–8.

  84. Ibid. Seybold WD. Interview with Anna Hanselman. May 16, 1970. Miss Hanselman: “I spent from about the first of August [1943] until the clinic opened making towels, everything. They bought materials by the bolt, and I had to make up all that we needed for the clinic.”

  85. Ibid. Cumley R McCay J (eds). The First Twenty Years of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. p 126.

  86. “The Houston Medical Centre.” Medical Record and Annals. 1943;37:651–62. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.1.

  87. Proceedings at the Dedication of the M. D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research. The M. D. Anderson Foundation, Houston, TX, 1944. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.152.1.

  88. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 99.

  89. Ibid. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades. p 19.

  90. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 105.

  91. MD Anderson Foundation letter to the Baylor Board of Trustees, May 3, 1943. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.42.6.

  92. Eastwood RT. Works and Efforts of Many Houstonians Behind Planning of Texas Medical Center. Part 1. pp 18–20. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.398.15.

  93. “Houston C. of C. Pledges Aid in Raising Funds.” Houston Post. May 12, 1943. p 1. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.1.

  94. “Baylor University Takes old Sears Building Here. College of Medicine, Opening July 12, to Occupy Two Floors for War’s Duration.” Houston Post. June 1, 1943. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, 40.1. “Under the terms, the medical school is to occupy the first and second floors until 6 months after the close of the war.”

  95. Ibid. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades. p 21.

  96. Out of the Woods: History of the Baylor Medical School 1948–1980. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark papers, MS 070, Series X, X.42.5.

  97. Baylor University Dedication Brochure. p 6. T TMC McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.42.5.

  98. Bertner EW. “The Opportunity for Coordination and Integration in the Texas Medical Center.” Delivered at the dedication of the Baylor Medical School. April 24,1948. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 3.10.

  99. Butler WT, Wise DL. Arming for Battle Against Disease. Houston: Baylor College of Medicine; 2011. p. 35.

    Google Scholar 

  100. Ibid. Balch CM. The Politics of Recruiting Dr. R Lee Clark Jr. as the First Permanent Director of The University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research: Part II: The Process and Politics of Recruiting Lt. Colonel R. Lee Clark Jr. to The University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital. p 745.

  101. Miller CA. A Time for All Things. New York: Oxford University Press; Oxford, England. 2020. p. 220.

    Google Scholar 

  102. DeBakey ME. Letter to W. H. Moursund. July 14, 1948. DeBakey Archives, National Library of Medicine. Bethesda MD: MS C 582. Series 3. Box 9; File 18.

  103. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 91.

  104. Clark RL. Letter to Dr. Claude Dixon, Mayo Clinic July 18,1947. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.78.8.

  105. Bertner EW. Letter to Dr. Alexander Brunschwig. University of Chicago. October 25, 1944. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III, III.13.2. Bertner thanked Brunschwig for his visit at the University of Chicago and stated: “I have just returned to Houston after my rather extensive tour of inspection of the various medical centers over the country.”

  106. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 119.

  107. Kipp HA. Letter to Anderson Foundation. January 22,1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, 1.14. In a two-page letter, Kipp describes all the engineering issues that must be implemented to initiate this gigantic project covering 134 acres of undeveloped land. He describes such major issues as clearing the forest of trees and underbrush, surveying, paving of roads, street lighting, installation of utilities, storm sewers, drainage culverts, and preparing a detailed layout plot for each building.

  108. Bertner EW. Letter to Dr. Leonell C. Strong, Yale University School of Medicine. October 6, 1945. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.83.4. “I have no desire to be the director of any cancer hospital, as I do not feel that I am personally qualified for such an assignment. I will, however, contribute anything I can to assist the Director in developing this institution.”

  109. Bertner EW. “Urges Search for a Permanent Director.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, p 4, September 30, 1945. ‘‘Dr. EW Bertner again requested the regents to press their search for a permanent director. He said the institute could not make long range plans until such leadership is selected.’’

  110. Ibid. Seybold WD. Texas Surgical Presidential Address, October 1971. Figure 1.

  111. “Medic Center Is Discussed by Director. About a Dozen Units Already Assured.” Houston Chronicle, 1945. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.2. “Plans for the Texas Medical Center of Houston, which is expected to be one of the largest in the country, were discussed by Dr E. W. Bertner, acting Director of the MD Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research, at a meeting of the Southampton Civic Club Monday night. . . . About a dozen units are assured, with aggregate beds of at least 3500. Of the $100,000,000 expected to finance the center, $32,000,000 already has been authorized from endowments and contributions.”

  112. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 122.

  113. “Spending $100,000,000 on Medical Center Planned.” Houston Chronicle. February 24, 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.3.

  114. Ibid. Elliott FC, Keller WH. The Birth of the Texas Medical Center. pp 87–8.

  115. “The Texas Medical Center. Gateway to a Better Life. 163-Acre Tract Dedicated to Relief of Suffering.” The Houston Press. February 8, 1947. p 5. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.4. A full-page spread describing the Texas Medical Center plans, along with photos of proposed buildings and a map of the campus.

  116. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 125.

  117. Barnett S. Foreword to a pamphlet describing the Texas Medical Center 1947. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X. X.1.14. “During the last twelve months, the Board of Trustees of the Center have studied and revised at least a dozen different plot plans prepared by H. A. Kipp, consulting engineers for the Center . . . the recommendation that the general hospitals be arranged in a close ring around the teaching institutions, with other hospitals in a secondary loop.”

  118. Ibid. Butler WT, Wise DL. Arming for Battle Against Disease. p 46.

  119. Ibid. Luther Rowsey. Some of the Major Medical Center Developments During the Past Three Decades. pp 25–6.

  120. Balch CM, The MD. Anderson Cancer Hospital that R. Lee Clark built. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021;28:8087–108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  121. “Dental School and Cancer Hospital Benefit All Texans.” Houston Post. March 16, 1953. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.10.5.

  122. Ibid. Balch, CM. “The Politics of Recruiting Dr. R. Lee Clark Jr. as the First Permanent Director of The University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research. Part II. pp 740–4.

  123. Clark RL. Letter to Acting Director of MD Anderson Hospital, Dr. Ernst Bertner, 11 February 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series II, II.7.4.

  124. University of Texas Board of Regents minutes, 12 July 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.185.8 and Series X, X.19.5.

  125. Seybold W. Interview with Mr. John H. Freeman about Doctor E. W. Bertner. April 8, 1971. p 3. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII, VIII.152.2 and William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63. ”Even though Bertner may not have found Dr. Clark, he certainly was a critical person in his selection.”

  126. Seybold WD. Telephone interview with Dr. R. Lee Clark. August 11, 1971. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers, MS 004, 63.6. Clark recalled: “Dr. Bertner certainly paved the way for everything we have been able to do. What he had done before had placed no restrictions on us, and there certainly was a large reservoir of goodwill on which to build. Bertner’s forte was in talking to businessmen on their own terms and exploiting every opportunity. I’ve never seen one who was his equal.”

  127. Seybold WD. Notes on the Final Illness of Dr. E. W. Bertner. August 11, 1971. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. William D. Seybold, MD papers. MS 004, 63.6.

  128. Clark RL. Letter to O. T. Claggett at the Mayo Clinic. October 6, 1948. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series VIII. VIII.73.13. “I operated upon Doctor Bertner Sunday. He had a large anaplastic tumor to the deep structures of the left thigh. It was necessary to remove all the lateral and a portion of the posterior compartment of the left thigh… Even this surgery is probably inadequate.”

  129. Clark RL. Letter to Dr William Seybold. September 29, 1971. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III. III.13.2. “Doctor Bertner and I decided between us that we would not amputate his left leg, but instead would try a block regional excision and radiation therapy as our first option. Afterward if he should have a local recurrence and his lungs were not involved, we could still amputate.”

  130. Memorandum on Dr. Bertner’s Illness. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 1.15.

  131. Houston Chronicle. October 14, 1948. “Doctor EW Bertner is recovering at Herman Hospital from a major operation… He will be away from his desk for some weeks.” McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X, X.40.5.

  132. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 132–3.

  133. Adair FE. (Chief Surgeon at Memorial Cancer Hospital in New York). Handwritten letter to Dr. Bertner, January 11, 1949. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002. 1.15. Having visited Dr Bertner in Houston, he wrote: “I called up Edith Quimby who is supposed to be tops on what radiated tissue will stand. You will remember that I brought up for serious consideration the propriety of you receiving 3 portals, each of 18 × 7 cm of 3000 rads—I felt that I wanted to be sure to protect you from radiation osteitis.”

  134. Clark RL letter to Bertner at the Ochsner Clinic. October 12, 1949. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III, III.13. 2 and Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002, 1.15.

  135. Clark RL. August 10,1971 memo and letter of 29 September 1971 to Dr. William Seybold (in preparation for Dr. Seybold’s Presidential Address about Dr. Ernst Bertner) regarding his role in performing surgery on Dr. William Bertner. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III, III.13.2.

  136. “City Leaders Mourn Death Of Doctor Bertner.” Houston Chronicle. July 29, 1950. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III. III.13.2. ”Bertner died at his Rice Hotel apartment at 12:25 PM, Friday, July 28, 1950. He was 60 years of age. Col. W. B. Bates stated: “His imagination, great energy, and constructive mind made the dream of the great Texas Medical Center a reality… He lived, breathed, and dreamed the Texas Medical Center. It isn’t often you find a great doctor, a great businessman, and a great creator in one man.” Dr Clark commented: “Even though he knew his days were numbered, he insisted that we try any new development in cancer treatment on him. I remember his intense will to be used as a ‘guinea pig’ in experiments that might help some other cancer victim.”

  137. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 133.

  138. Ibid. Seybold WD. Interview with R. Lee Clark about Bertner’s cancer. July 8, 1971. Clark recalled: “Let there be no doubt about the man’s courage. I saw him every day during the last month of his life. He was in pain, and he knew the end was near. But he didn’t show it. He met with friends and associates every day, continuing to lay out plans and to describe his hopes for the medical center. His vision was great, and so were his character and strength.”

  139. Bertner EW letter to Mr. Hugh R. Cullen. July 13, 1950. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. Ernst William Bertner, MD papers, MS 002. 3.29

  140. Mary Frazer. “Dr. Bertner Loses Fight With Cancer. Houston Physician Dies in Rice Hotel.” Houston Press Daily. July 29,1950. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers. MS 070, Series X,X.40.7.

  141. Sue Barnett, “Bill Bertner–M.D.” Texas Parade. November 1950, p 22.

  142. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. College Station: A&M University Press; 2014. p. 86.

    Google Scholar 

  143. Clark RL. Letter to members of the Council of the Southern Surgical Association, December 3, 1949, nominating Ernst Bertner for membership. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series III, III.67.

  144. Macon ND. South from Flower Mountain: A Conversation with William B. Bates. Texas Medical Center Publishing, 1975, p 65.

  145. “Dr Elliott to Head Med Center.” Houston Chronicle. October 1, 1952. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark, MD papers, MS 070, Series X. X.40.9.

  146. Ibid. Kellar WH. Enduring Legacy. p 155.

  147. Clark RL. Letter to UT President Theophilus Painter. October 30, 1946. McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library. R. Lee Clark papers MS 070. Series X, box 42, file 1.

Download references

Acknowledgment

The author gives many thanks to Sandra E. Yates, Head of the McGovern Historical Center of the Texas Medical Center Library, to Matthew Richardson, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, and to Alethea Drexler, Archivist Assistant for providing historical documents used in this manuscript. The author is grateful to Dr. John Niederhuber for his sage comments and editorial suggestions and extends a special gratitude to Ms. Deborah Whippen for her valuable editorial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Charles M. Balch MD, FACS, FACSCO

Authors
  1. Charles M. Balch MD, FACS, FACSCO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles M. Balch MD, FACS, FACSCO.

Ethics declarations

Disclosure

There are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (PPTX 20182 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Balch, C.M. Ernst Bertner: A Surgeon with Prescient Vision for the Largest Medical Center in the World. Ann Surg Oncol 31, 2833–2855 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-14894-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-14894-w

Search

Navigation