The Boy With the Wounded Thumb

by Gordon H. Theilen

Overview

Gordon H. Theilen, DVM, DACVIM (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine), one of the world's most honored veterinary medicine research scientists and practitioners, is recognized as the progenitor of veterinary oncology. His groundbreaking research in cancer virology in the 1960s led to his establishment of the world's first veterinary clinical oncology service. With contributions from colleagues, Dr. Theilen coauthored Veterinary Cancer Medicine, the world's first reference textbook and definitive reference source on veterinary oncology. The legions of veterinary students whom he taught during his four decades as a distinguished professor of surgical and radiological sciences have helped entrench worldwide veterinary oncology as an essential discipline within veterinary medicine.
Now, 60 years after he first entered veterinary practice, Dr. Theilen has documented his life story in two companion books, the first of which is The Boy With the Wounded Thumb. This book is a narrative describing how a childhood brush with near-tragedy, coupled with his innate curiosity about nature, set him on course for a career in veterinary science. His forthcoming book One Medicine War on Cancer describes his investigation into how neoplasia develops from retroviral infections, which led to his work's foundational concept of integrating oncologic research in humans and animals.
Dr. Theilen hopes that these autobiographical books, a testament to the demonstrative results of innovative scientific investigation, will enlighten and inspire future generations of comparative oncologists, including medical and veterinary researchers and practitioners. All interested in understanding and defeating cancer, whether in animals or humans, will gain needed insights from wisdom given in these books.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940157238162
Publisher:	EditPros LLC
Publication date:	01/30/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Gordon Theilen, DVM, ACVIM—Oncology, is one among a handful of internationally renowned veterinary comparative scientists who founded the discipline of veterinary oncology in the 1960s. He authored and coauthored the first comprehensive veterinary oncology reference texts, Veterinary Cancer Medicine. The first volume was translated into Japanese. Noted for his stubborn refusal to concede to the ravages of cancer in animals, Dr. Theilen provided comprehensive information helping conquer neoplastic diseases in humans. He was a leader in combination cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
A professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine for 37 years, Dr. Theilen did basic research on cancer-causing viruses in horses, turkeys, cows, cats, and primates. In 1965 he identified and named stem cell sarcoma in turkeys, Reticuloendotheliosis. In 1969, he co-discovered Synder-Theilen Feline Sarcoma Virus (ST-FeSV), and he discovered the first and only Simian Sarcoma Virus, SSV-1 (WMSV), in 1971. This discovery led to recognition on the cover of Cancer Research, volume 42, August 1982, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
In 1964-65, Dr. Theilen served a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, in the laboratory of Ray C. Bryan, and in 1972-73 he was a fellow at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Chester Beatty Institute in London. In 1979-80 he was a senior scientist at the School of Medicine’s Department of Virology, Alexander von Humboldt Research Institute, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, and he also worked in veterinary pathology there. He visited other countries to help veterinarians and physicians understand cancer-causing retroviral infections. He was honored to give the annual pathology lecture for the schools of medicine and veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1973. Theilen waged a one-medicine war on cancer, and was honored by UC Davis on his 80th birthday with the Theilen Tribute Symposium in recognition of 50 years of cancer research. Scientific papers were presented by leading cancer researchers.
His students – interns, residents, fellows and postdocs – have spanned the world with their influence and leadership affecting many other related areas of veterinary and human comparative medicine.
Dr. Theilen was awarded University of California School of Veterinary Medicine outstanding Alumni Achievement Awa