Goethe Link
Encyclopedia
Goethe Link was a noted Indianapolis
surgeon
who specialized in the treatment of goitre
and thyroid
problems, developing many innovative surgical techniques for these conditions.
He was born in Pike County, Indiana
, and went to high school in Petersburg, Indiana
. After two years at Wabash College
he transferred to Indiana University
and received the M.D.
degree in 1902. He was one of the founders of the Indiana University Medical School and practiced in the Indianapolis area until well into his 80's. By 1970 he had performed over 22,000 thyroid operations. He was also a pioneering aeronaut, who won the National Balloon Race in 1909. He was also an amateur astronomer
. He built a 36 inches (914.4 mm) telescope
in his own observatory
, which was donated to Indiana University
in 1947 and named the Goethe Link Observatory
. An asteroid, 1728 Goethe Link
, discovered at the observatory in 1964, was named for him.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
who specialized in the treatment of goitre
Goitre
A goitre or goiter , is a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx...
and thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
problems, developing many innovative surgical techniques for these conditions.
He was born in Pike County, Indiana
Pike County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,837 people, 5,119 households, and 3,680 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 5,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, and went to high school in Petersburg, Indiana
Petersburg, Indiana
Petersburg is a city in Washington Township, Pike County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,383 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Pike County.Petersburg is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. After two years at Wabash College
Wabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
he transferred to Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and received the M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1902. He was one of the founders of the Indiana University Medical School and practiced in the Indianapolis area until well into his 80's. By 1970 he had performed over 22,000 thyroid operations. He was also a pioneering aeronaut, who won the National Balloon Race in 1909. He was also an amateur astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
. He built a 36 inches (914.4 mm) telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
in his own observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, which was donated to Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1947 and named the Goethe Link Observatory
Goethe Link Observatory
The Goethe Link Observatory is an astronomical observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana , owned by Indiana University and operated by the Indiana Astronomical Society. It is named in honour of Dr. Goethe Link, an Indianapolis surgeon, who built it with his private funds. Construction of the observatory...
. An asteroid, 1728 Goethe Link
1728 Goethe Link
1728 Goethe Link is an asteroid in the main belt of the asteroid belt. It was discovered by the Indiana Asteroid Program on October 12, 1964 at the Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, USA....
, discovered at the observatory in 1964, was named for him.