S. W. Harrington
Encyclopedia
Dr. Stuart William “Tack” Harrington (April 20, 1889 - March 1975) was an American physician
and surgeon
, an All-American football
player, and a head football coach.
in 1889. In 1908 he entered Pennsylvania State College as a premedical student. He played one year of varsity football there under Tom Fennell
. He then matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania
(UPA), where he received the M.D. degree In 1913. While at UPA, he played 3 years of varsity football and was named an All-American halfback
in 1912.
. He earned a Master of Science degree in surgery from the University of Minnesota
. In 1920, Harrington became head of a section of surgery at the Mayo Clinic, eventually becoming a full professor.
On the advice of Dr. William Mayo
, Dr Harrington changed his subspeciality from gastrointestinal and urologic surgery to thoracic and breast surgery. Eventually Dr Harrington developed an international reputation in the diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic hernias and mediastinal tumors. He was honored several times by the American Medical Association
for work on chronic postpneumonic empyema, and pericardiectomy for chronic constrictive pericarditis. In 1937, Dr. Harrington was elected the 20th president of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery
and in 1948 he helped found the American Board of Surgery
.
Harrington wrote 38 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals and lectured extensively.
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
for the 1913-1914 football seasons. He was the 13th head football coach of the Red Devils. His overall coaching record at Dickinson was 6 wins, 11 losses, and 0 ties.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and 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...
, an All-American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, and a head football coach.
Early life
Dr Harrington was born in Blossburg, PennsylvaniaBlossburg, Pennsylvania
Blossburg is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2000 census.-History:In 1792 a party of immigrants who were building the Williamson Road from Williamsport, in Lycoming County, to Painted Post in New York under the leadership of Robert and...
in 1889. In 1908 he entered Pennsylvania State College as a premedical student. He played one year of varsity football there under Tom Fennell
Tom Fennell
-External links:...
. He then matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(UPA), where he received the M.D. degree In 1913. While at UPA, he played 3 years of varsity football and was named an All-American halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
in 1912.
Medical career
After Medical School, Dr Harrington interned at Howard Hospital in Philadelphia. In November 1914 he became a fellow in surgery at the Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
. He earned a Master of Science degree in surgery from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. In 1920, Harrington became head of a section of surgery at the Mayo Clinic, eventually becoming a full professor.
On the advice of Dr. William Mayo
William Mayo
William Mayo is the name of:* William B. Mayo , former chief engineer of the Ford Motor Company* Two co-founders of the Mayo Clinic:** William Worrall Mayo **William James Mayo...
, Dr Harrington changed his subspeciality from gastrointestinal and urologic surgery to thoracic and breast surgery. Eventually Dr Harrington developed an international reputation in the diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic hernias and mediastinal tumors. He was honored several times by the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
for work on chronic postpneumonic empyema, and pericardiectomy for chronic constrictive pericarditis. In 1937, Dr. Harrington was elected the 20th president of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery
American Association for Thoracic Surgery
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery is an international association of cardiothoracic surgeons. It was founded in 1917 by the earliest pioneers in the field of thoracic surgery. Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, it has over 1,200 members from 35 countries...
and in 1948 he helped found the American Board of Surgery
American Board of Surgery
The American Board of Surgery is an independent, non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge...
.
Harrington wrote 38 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals and lectured extensively.
Football coach
In order to supplement his income as a medical intern in Philadelphia, Dr. Harrington served as football coach of the Dickinson College Red DevilsDickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
for the 1913-1914 football seasons. He was the 13th head football coach of the Red Devils. His overall coaching record at Dickinson was 6 wins, 11 losses, and 0 ties.