Harry McFadden Jr., M.D., a legendary UNMC professor and mentor died Monday in Omaha. He was 92.
A nationally-recognized pathologist, Dr. McFadden was best known as the first and only chairman of UNMC’s Department of Medical Microbiology from 1956 until his retirement in 1985, when the department merged with the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. It is now the Department of Pathology and Microbiology.
 |
Harry McFadden Jr., M.D. |
Lasting legacy
Upon his retirement, he was honored with the establishment of the Harry W. McFadden, Jr., M.D. Lectureship. The annual event, sponsored by the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology and the College of Medicine Alumni Class of 1964, has presented several outstanding individuals, including Nobel Prize laureates.
A distinguished career
Dr. McFadden graduated from the College of Medicine in 1943. After an internship and residency in pathology at the College of Medicine, he served with the medical corps of the United Sates Army in Berlin from 1945 to 1947. He joined the College of Medicine faculty in 1949 as an instructor in the department of pathology and bacteriology.
He served as acting chancellor of UNMC from 1971 to 1972 and interim chancellor from 1976 to 1977. He was active in teaching, service and research and has received local, state and national recognition for his efforts in these areas.
Legendary contributions
Among his honors was the 1985 J. G. Elliott Award, which he received for contributions to medicine and health programs for the state of Nebraska. He also received the Meritorious Service Award in 1980 for his contributions to medical school and allied health education.
In 2006, he was named one of five Legends of UNMC.
A staunch supporter of UNMC, he was a member of the Edward A. Holyoke, M.D., Ph.D., Society that honors physicians who made gifts of $100,000 or more to the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education project.