JOHN H. DUNNINGTON, MD BY Arthur G. DeVoe, MD
JOHN
HUGHES
DUNNINGTON,
FIFTY-FIFTH
PRESIDENT
of the American Ophthalmological Society, was born in Farmville, Virginia on January 12th, 1894 and died in New York City on October 17th, 1977 after a short illness. He received a BA degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1911 at the age of seventeen and his MD degree at the University of Virginia four years later. An internship at the Staten Island Hospital and an eye residency at the Manhattan Eye and Throat Hospital from 1917 to 1918 preceded his entry into the Army as a First Lieutenant during World War I. During his period of military service he first met Doctor John
Necrology Wheeler with whom he was to be closely associated in his subsequent ophthalmological career. When Doctor Wheeler moved from Bellevue Hospital to the newly-opened Eye Institute of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Doctor Dunnington followed as his chief lieutenant. Progressing rapidly through the ranks, he became clinical director on Doctor Wheeler's death in 1938, and in 1945 was made director and departmental head on a geographic full-time basis, a position he maintained until his retirement, July 1st, 1959, as professor emeritus. Although he was required to relinquish his academic positions, he maintained active office practice until his death. One of the outstanding personalities of his ophthalmic generation, Doctor Dunnington received numerous honors and occupied a number of important posts, including the Presidency of the American Ophthalmological Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Chairman of the American Board of Ophthalmology and Editor of the Archives of Ophthalmology. Eighty-five publications reflect his clinical interests beginning with surgery of the extraocular muscles, exemplified by his 1929 AOS thesis, Tenotomy of the Inferior Oblique. He then proceeded to detachment of the retina and plastic procedures, but eventually focused his attention primarily in the area of cataract surgery. His Bowman, Gifford, Jackson, and Proctor lectures all reflected his later interest in wound healing. There were few things in life more important to him than ophthalmology. Until his death he was a frequent attendant at rounds and conferences at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, which he did so much to develop. He was able to channel large sums of money into research and developmental projects because of his wide personal contact with influential individuals. He was beloved by the young men he trained and respected by his peers. Of all his medical associations, the AOS was by far the most important to him. Rarely, if ever, did he miss a meeting until his last few years. Totally honest, he will be missed for his wise counsel as well as for his friendly spirit which contributed so much to the meetings of this Society. He is survived by his wife and life-long companion, Genevieve; a daughter, and one grandson. 10
JOHN
HUGHES
DUNNINGTON,
FIFTY-FIFTH
PRESIDENT
of the American Ophthalmological Society, was born in Farmville, Virginia on January 12th, 1894 and died in New York City on October 17th, 1977 after a short illness. He received a BA degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1911 at the age of seventeen and his MD degree at the University of Virginia four years later. An internship at the Staten Island Hospital and an eye residency at the Manhattan Eye and Throat Hospital from 1917 to 1918 preceded his entry into the Army as a First Lieutenant during World War I. During his period of military service he first met Doctor John
Necrology Wheeler with whom he was to be closely associated in his subsequent ophthalmological career. When Doctor Wheeler moved from Bellevue Hospital to the newly-opened Eye Institute of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Doctor Dunnington followed as his chief lieutenant. Progressing rapidly through the ranks, he became clinical director on Doctor Wheeler's death in 1938, and in 1945 was made director and departmental head on a geographic full-time basis, a position he maintained until his retirement, July 1st, 1959, as professor emeritus. Although he was required to relinquish his academic positions, he maintained active office practice until his death. One of the outstanding personalities of his ophthalmic generation, Doctor Dunnington received numerous honors and occupied a number of important posts, including the Presidency of the American Ophthalmological Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Chairman of the American Board of Ophthalmology and Editor of the Archives of Ophthalmology. Eighty-five publications reflect his clinical interests beginning with surgery of the extraocular muscles, exemplified by his 1929 AOS thesis, Tenotomy of the Inferior Oblique. He then proceeded to detachment of the retina and plastic procedures, but eventually focused his attention primarily in the area of cataract surgery. His Bowman, Gifford, Jackson, and Proctor lectures all reflected his later interest in wound healing. There were few things in life more important to him than ophthalmology. Until his death he was a frequent attendant at rounds and conferences at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, which he did so much to develop. He was able to channel large sums of money into research and developmental projects because of his wide personal contact with influential individuals. He was beloved by the young men he trained and respected by his peers. Of all his medical associations, the AOS was by far the most important to him. Rarely, if ever, did he miss a meeting until his last few years. Totally honest, he will be missed for his wise counsel as well as for his friendly spirit which contributed so much to the meetings of this Society. He is survived by his wife and life-long companion, Genevieve; a daughter, and one grandson. 10
