Donald McIntyre, M.D., remembers his childhood days spent at UNMC with his parents, who both had advanced degrees in the sciences. The medical center was a stimulating environment for his growing mind. Some weekends were spent in the lab with his father amid fascinating research.
After college, he returned to UNMC as a medical student, studying with his father, who was teaching in what was then known as the department of physiology and pharmacology. Even though a young McIntyre no longer roams the halls of UNMC, the legacy of the McIntyre family and his father’s teaching lives on through the creation of the A. Ross McIntyre, M.D., Ph.D., Professorship in Physiology.
Dr. A. Ross McIntyre was a professor of physiology and pharmacology at UNMC for nearly 40 years. He was a well-known pharmacologist who was credited with developing a new adjunct for general anesthesia. He was the first to use curare, a poison used by natives in the Amazon River region, as an aide to anesthesia.
A native of London, Dr. McIntyre received his doctorate in 1930 and medical degree in 1931 all from the University of Chicago.
During his time at UNMC, Dr. McIntyre not only taught, but also served as department chairman for 32 years. He developed graduate programs that eventually led to the granting of a master’s degree and Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology.
In honor of his contributions to medicine and medical education, Dr. McIntyre received the Distinguished Service to Medicine Award from UNMC in 1975. Now, his son has ensured that his legacy lives on.
“My dad’s job at UNMC allowed him to shelter, feed, clothe and educate me,” Dr. Donald McIntyre said.
“UNMC granted me a doctor of medicine degree, which became the basis of my professional life. In a sense, UNMC has supported me my entire life. The creation of this professorship allowed me to show my gratitude to both the university as well as to my dad and to honor him for his successes and contributions to the field of medicine.”
In November, Kaushik Patel, Ph.D., was named the inaugural A. Ross McIntyre M.D., Ph.D., Professor.
Faculty support remains a top priority for UNMC through the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Campaign for Nebraska. For more information, contact Meg Johnson at (402) 502-4107 or mjohnson@nufoundation.org.