Long Island College Hospital - Lichonian Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Q fi T- T':: ' -Hn' Hs: ' az inf ' Y-'xi m .. ..:--.WLS gfigzzts. :s:g:rf.sf.a.:si::e::g::..sm'f'.t A voluminous contributor to the literature of both obstetrics and gynecology, a list of Doctor Polak's papers covers a broad field. In 1894- he contributed a Chapter on Diseases of the Bladder in Keating and Coe, Gynecology, published by Lippincott. In Jewett's Obstetrics fby American writersl, published by Lea Brothers in 1900, Doctor Polak wrote the chapters on Version and Embryotomy. In addition, Doctor Polak is the author of a Manual of Obstetrics, a Manual of Gynecology Q2nd Edition, and Pelvic Inflammation in Women. His shorter contributions embrace a formidable list, we merely give by title his papers for the past two years or so: Clinical Study of Blood Pressure and Haemoglobin in Post-Operative Shockg Post Operative Hemorrhage and Post-Operative Cardiac Dilatationg A Further Study of the End-Results of the Conserved ovaryg Puerperal Pelvic lnfectiong Relation of Pulse Pressure and Kidney Fpnction to Operative Prognosisg Diagnosis of Unruptured Ectopic Pregnancy Based on the Tubal Pathologyg Needless Operationsg Total Hysterectomy in Fibroid Tumors of the Uterusg The Defects in Our Obstetric Teaching, Deductions from a Study of 307 cases of Ectopic Pregnancyg The lVIorbidity and Mortality of Caesarean Section, based on a study of 2,200 cases, Origin of Vaginal Bleeding in Ectopic Gestationg The Relation of Hyper- tension to Fibroid Disease of the Uterusg Dry Laborg The End Results of 350 Cervix Operations. The foregoing is partly extracted from the Bulletin and briefly presents the facts ordinarily included in a biographical sketch. It does not, of course, indicate the personal characteristics of the subject except insofar as heredity and environment may mould a man. To draw an accurate word picture of an individual is a difficult task, and especially is this true when the subject is a many-sided, versatile character. Professor Polak is a keen judge of character, and reads men rather easily. Per- haps this is, in part, the result of intimate contact with many kinds of people in many different places during his early life. He understands young men, and knows well their ambitions, weaknesses and points of view. As a teacher, Professor Polak presents his subject in a clear, striking and systematic manner. No instrument or machine, that could in any way serve to clarify the subject, has been overlooked. It is admitted that students will more easily grasp an idea or an explanation if it is graphically presented. Taking advantage of this fact Pro- fessor Polak has had a reflecting lantern installed in Clinical Hall, one in the cystoscopy room on the third floor in the Hospital, and recently a beautiful little automatic lantern slide reflector in the Amphitheatre of the Hospital, which will not only be used during lectures, but also as a means of showing the students each step of the operation, while it is being performed. In this Way the students sitting too far back to see and follow the procedure, will be able to appreciate the operation and gain as much from it as those, more fortunate ones, in the front row. To those who have had the benefit of his instruction, it has been obvious that it is his endeavor to inculcate sound principles and useful knowledge into the minds of his auditors, rather than to exploit the extent of his own learning. At the bedside his manner inspires the confidence of the patient, while his methods serve as models for the students to emulate. Among his associates, colleagues, and students of the College, his talents and personal merits have always been accorded general recognition and sincere appreciation. It is quite fitting, therefore, that the LICHONIAN of 1923 should have singled him out for special distinction. Paqr srrfviz

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S llnhn Gbahnrn lgnlak iii. Sr., Hi. E., ZH. A. 01. Sf. He needs no other rosary whose thread of life is strung .ah bead: of love and thought. R. JGHN OSBORN POLAK, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology If was born in New York of Karl T. Polak and Mary E. Osborn, and 'Eg' prepared for college at Rutgers Grammar School. He entered Rutgers 5 in 1885 and graduated in 1-889 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. H4 He began the study of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital in 1889, and pursued his studies at that institution as well as at The University of Vermont, being graduated from both places with the degree of M.D. He was awarded the Dudley medal for surgery, Doctor Polak's growth and rise to the top rung in the ladder can well be shown as follows: 1891-1892-Interne at the Long Island College Hospital, 1892-Resident in Midwifery at The New York Post Graduate hfledical School. Instructor in His- tology and Obstetrics at the Long Island College Hospital, 189-I-1898-Instructor in Obstetrics at The New York Post Graduate lVIedical School, 1898-1901--Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics at The New York Post Graduate Nledical School, 1900- Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Long Island College Hospital, 1901-Professor of Obstetrics at The New York Post Graduate llfledical School QResigned 19071, 1903-Professor of Obstetrics, and Clinical Professor of Gyne- cology at Dartmouth lVIedical School, 1910--Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Long Island College Hospital. VVe here list Doctor Polak's most important hospital afliliationsz Attending Gynecologist, VVilliamsburgh Hospital, 189-l-, Attending Gynecologist, Brooklyn Eastern District Hospital, 189-1, Attending Gynecologist, Deaconess Hospital, 1889, Attending Gynecologist, jewish Hospital, 1906, Attending Gynecologist, Peoples Hospital, N. Y., 1909, Gynecologist-in'Chief, Polhemus, 1899, Visiting Obstetrician, Methodist Episcopal Hospital, 1906, Consulting Obstetrician, Mary Hitchcock Hos- pital, Hanover, N. H., 1903. Within recent years Doctor Polak severed his active connection with all hospitals with the exception of The Jewish Hospital and The Long Island College Hospital. However, he is listed as being on the Consultant Staff of Bethony Deaconess Hospital, The Williamsburgh Hospital, Bushwick Hospital, Peoples Hospital, N. Y., Coney Island Hospital, Methodist Episcopal Hospital, and the lVIary Hitchcock Hospital, Hanover, N. H. V tx Doctor Polak's membership in societies covers a long list. The more important ones are: Fellow of The American Medical Association, Chairman on Section of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Abdominal Surgery, 1921 , Fellow of The American Col- lege of Surgeons, New York State Medical Society, Fellow New York Academy of llledicine fChairman on Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 19131, New York Obstetrical Society QPresident, 19161, Kings County lVIedical Society fPresident, 191-H, Brooklyn Gynecological Society, Brooklyn Pathological Society, Associated Physicians of Long Island, Brooklyn Medical Society, 1'Villiamsburgh hledical Society. In 1908 Doctor Polak was elected as an Active Fellow of the American Gyne- cological Society. Page J

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