Without fanfare, Stan Truhlsen, MD, changed the landscape of UNMC and the field of ophthalmology.
The legendary ophthalmologist and philanthropist died Dec. 23 at age 101 and long will be remembered for his kindness and positivity, generous spirit and radiant smile.
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| Stanley Truhlsen was honored in September 2021 at a Circle of Distinction ceremony that also saw the naming of the recipient of the Stanley Truhlsen Jr. Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. |
"Stan was a giant on this campus," UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said. "He continued to be active and interested in UNMC and was instrumental in elevating UNMC to where it is today. Stan and Dottie were among the very first to welcome me to Nebraska and have not only been strong supporters of UNMC but very good friends. He was so very proud of the eye institute that bears his name and particularly of the high quality of education, research and care that occurs every day. We are saddened by his passing and grateful for his generosity."
A native of Herman, Nebraska (population 265), Dr. Truhlsen learned early on the importance of giving back to the community. He went on to become nationally recognized in the field of ophthalmology but remembered his dad saying, "Repay your town for what they've done for you."
Dr. Truhlsen did so time and again.
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| The Truhlsen Eye Institute (click image to enlarge) opened in 2013. |
Dr. Truhlsen made contributions that helped position UNMC and Nebraska Medicine as a medical research, education and patient care leader.
His pride and joy — the Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute — opened in 2013 at 40th and Leavenworth Streets. Five years later, he funded the skywalk connection between the Truhlsen Eye Institute and the Lauritzen Outpatient Center & Fritch Surgery Center.
At the time, he said: "As a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the College of Medicine, it has been satisfying for me to give back to the institution in this way. I owe a great deal to the University of Nebraska."
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| Stanley Truhlsen, MD, seated with Ronald Krueger, MD, left, and Stephen Yeh, MD, right. |
Dr. Truhlsen also provided support for the Truhlsen Eye Research Laboratories at the Durham Research Center, the Dr. Stanley M. and Dorothy Truhlsen Campus Events Center at the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center, which is home to the Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning (iEXCEL), and the Wigton Heritage Center.
Dr. Truhlsen graduated from UNL in 1941 and UNMC in 1944. He completed residencies at Albany Hospital in New York and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. A private practice physician, he joined UNMC’s ophthalmology department in 1951. He was appointed emeritus clinical professor of ophthalmology in 1993. He was interim chairman of the department of ophthalmology in 1989-90. He received UNMC’s Distinguished Service to Medicine Award in 2003.
For more about the life of Stanley Truhlsen, read this 2020 UNMC Today feature honoring his 100th birthday and listen to these interviews with Dr. Truhlsen – oral histories kept by the McGoogan Health Sciences Library – from 2017 and from 2020.
Dr. Truhlsen was accomplished on the national stage. He was elected president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the nation's largest organization of physicians specializing in eye care. While president, he participated in the academy’s launch of the National Eye Care Program, which brought together 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists nationwide who provided, at no cost, care for the elderly in need.
Today, his name graces the AAO's Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye in San Francisco, the only free, public museum dedicated to the fascinating science of sight.
He also served as president of the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS), the Ophthalmology Research Foundation, the Nebraska Academy of Ophthalmology and the Omaha Ophthalmology Society.
In 2001, he received the Lucien Howe Medal from the AOS, the oldest ophthalmic organization in the United States. The Howe Medal is considered one of the most prestigious awards in ophthalmology and is the only award given by the AOS. It is awarded in recognition of "conspicuous services as a researcher or a teacher during long years of devotion" and for contributions to ophthalmology.
Dr. Truhlsen’s generosity also extended to the larger Omaha community. His gifts have provided funding for The Durham Museum’s lecture hall, renovations and an addition to Countryside Community Church, the Holland Performing Arts Center, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and the Joslyn Art Museum sculpture garden.
Plans for funeral services are pending. Service information will be posted
online at legacy.com. Memorials are directed to the Truhlsen Eye Institute and Dundee Presbyterian Church.
Truly a great, kind and generous man. RIP Dr. Truhlsen.
My mother was one of his clinic nurses and he was my ophthalmologist from 3rd grade on, till I graduated from medical school. He was an image of a fine doctor and good man. My eyes rapidly progressed from just nearsightedness to worsening correction and astygmatism. He was comforting and helped me maintain perspective on the changes. My mother always talked about the shoe box full of BB's that he and his partner (Dr. Morrison) kept in their office. It was from removing them from kids who didn't pay attention when they were warned that they could shoot their eye out with one of those things. I never got to see this fabled box, but it was impressive enough that my mother never let us get a BB gun. I will miss him. One of the bad things about getting older is that your mentors leave the stage. Fareweill and thanks.
Jim Harper, MD
Ped Hematology
Stan the Man – nothing more needs to be said.
What an incredible man, so humble and kind. It was a pleasure knowing him.
What a PERFECT gentleman! I will miss the fun we had together watching the ups and downs of our favorite stock. We shared a kindred spirit of supporting UNMC which made it all more the
more meaningful. He will be missed!! ♥️♥️
Dr. Truhlsen was a kind and generous gentleman. He will be remembered well by all those who knew him.
Tribute to Stanley Truhlsen MD
I first met Dr. Truhlsen in 1965 after my first year at UNMC. His daughter Barb was on my swim team at the Omaha Country Club. I had observed that the ophthalmologist members often spent time with their children at the pool and that I rarely saw other physicians at the pool.
When possible during medical school I would observe eye surgery at Clarkson Hospital where Dr. Truhlsen operated, and in 1969 as a resident in ophthalmology I often was able to scrub during the surgery. On June 15,1970, while I was assisting Dr. Truhlsen, the Clarkson parking garage collapsed. Later we both discovered that our cars were smashed, my old chevy and Dr. Truhlsen’s new Cadillac.
Dr. Truhlsen was active in the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and served as its president in 1983. He was very helpful when I was chief resident in ophthalmology at UNMC; he offered advice on how the lecture series in ophthalmology for the 1st year medical students could be changed. The new series emphasized diagnosis and treatment of common eye conditions seen in primary practices. He mentioned that the AAO might be interested in this concept; a committee was formed and a slide script of Primary Eye Care was produced.
In 1996 Dr. Truhlsen served as president of the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS). That same year my thesis was accepted and I became a member. During the annual meetings of the AOS we commonly discussed how small town boys from Nebraska were able to belong to such a group. In 2001, it was my honor to join Bruce Spivey in escorting Dr. Truhlsen to receive the prestigious Howe Medal of the AOS.
This man delivered constructive advice unselfishly and has been extremely generous with his time and money. I feel very fortunate that I knew Dr. Truhlsen.
Mylan Van Newkirk UNMC 1968
I may be among one of Dr. Truhlsen's first surgeries after he joined Dr. Morrison in the old Dr's Building. Because of this wonderful man, I no longer have a crossed eye.
Ann Miller
Condolences to his family. I am grateful for Dr. Truhlsen's generosity to the University Of Nebraska and Omaha. We will always remember Dr. Truhlsen with admiration.
Chancellor Gold- Thank you for your wonderful tribute on behald of Dr. Stanley Truhlsen.- Charles D. Fritch, M.D. FACS.