Stanley M. Truhlsen
Encyclopedia
Stanley M. Truhlsen is an American ophthalmologist, university professor and philanthropist in Omaha
who has served as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
, as a governor of the American College of Surgeons
and led a number of distinguished Nebraska organizations.
in Sweden in the 1870s and came to the United States via Germany, settling in Blair, Nebraska
with his surname anglicized as Truhlsen.
Stanley Truhlsen completed undergraduate work in 1941 and received his MD
degree at the University of Nebraska in 1944. He then completed his internship and residency at Albany Hospital in New York before entering the army in 1946. He joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
, was made a full professor there in 1974, got the university's Alumni Achievement Award in 1986 and remains its emeritus
. In 1965 was elected to the then 100-year-old American Ophthalmological Society.
He served on the board of directors and executive committee of Nebraska Blue Cross-Blue Shield 1970-1993 and, also in 1970, was on the board of the Health Planning Council of the Midlands. He has also been on the boards of Omaha Home for Boys, the Nebraska Society to Prevent Blindness and the Omaha Citizens Assembly.
In 1983 Truhlsen became president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology with which he had been associated since 1951, when he had returned to Omaha from a residency at Barnes Hospital
and Washington University in St. Louis. He became an associate editor and later editor of the Academy’s journal Transactions.
Other organizations which Truhlsen has served as president include the American Eye Study Club, the Nebraska Academy of Ophthalmology, Omaha Medical Society, the medical staffs of Omaha’s Clarkson (1972) and Immanuel Hospitals, the Exchange Club of Omaha and Rotary
of Omaha. He has been on the board of councillors for the Nebraska Medical Association (1981) and president of the University of Nebraska chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honorary society. Clarkson Hospital honored him in 1985 with its Outstanding Physician Award. The Nebraska Affiliate of the National Society to Prevent Blindness gave him its People of Vision Award in 1986.
While he was a governor of the American College of Surgeons in 1985, Truhlsen’s home state elected him to the honorary position of King of Quivira as Ak-Sar-Ben
XCI. His first connection with Ak-Sar-Ben was in his childhood when his father had served as an ambassador of the organization and brought Truhlsen and his young friends to Omaha for its events for boys.
The University of Nebraska College of Medical Alumni gave Stanley M. Truhlsen Sr. its first Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award in 1989. That year he also had the Omaha Health Citizen of the Year Award from the Combined Health Agencies Drive. In 2001 he received the Lucien Howe
Medal from the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS), one of the most prestigious awards in ophthalmology and the only award given by the AOS. From 1998 to 2010 he was also on the board of Durham Museum
.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center, where Truhlsen was on the faculty as early as 1951, gave him its Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and in 2009 announced that it would build a multi-million-dollar eye institute which will be named for him and open in 2012. Truhlsen had provided a key donation for the project.
Truhlsen has two sons and two daughters by his first wife Ruth née Haney who died in 1976. In 1981 he married Dorothy D. (Dottie) Johnson of Denison, Iowa. The couple traveled to his ancestral village of N. Sandby in Hässleholm
, Sweden (together with other American relatives of Swedish descent from California, South Dakota, Iowa, Maryland and New Jersey) for a large international family reunion in 1989.
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
who has served as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership medical association of ophthalmologists–medical doctors specializing in eye care and surgery including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the...
, as a governor of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
and led a number of distinguished Nebraska organizations.
Biography
He is a native of Herman, Nebraska, where his parents were Henry "Spike" Truhlsen (1891–1970) and Lola Marshall Truhlsen (1897–1979). His paternal grandfather Niels Truedsson (1847–1921) left ScaniaScania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
in Sweden in the 1870s and came to the United States via Germany, settling in Blair, Nebraska
Blair, Nebraska
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2000 census. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
with his surname anglicized as Truhlsen.
Stanley Truhlsen completed undergraduate work in 1941 and received his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree at the University of Nebraska in 1944. He then completed his internship and residency at Albany Hospital in New York before entering the army in 1946. He joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a public academic health sciences center located on 42nd and Emile Streets in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. UNMC is the only public academic health science center in Nebraska.-Academics and rankings:...
, was made a full professor there in 1974, got the university's Alumni Achievement Award in 1986 and remains its emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
. In 1965 was elected to the then 100-year-old American Ophthalmological Society.
He served on the board of directors and executive committee of Nebraska Blue Cross-Blue Shield 1970-1993 and, also in 1970, was on the board of the Health Planning Council of the Midlands. He has also been on the boards of Omaha Home for Boys, the Nebraska Society to Prevent Blindness and the Omaha Citizens Assembly.
In 1983 Truhlsen became president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology with which he had been associated since 1951, when he had returned to Omaha from a residency at Barnes Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the largest hospital in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the adult teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, and is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is consistently rated one of the top hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report...
and Washington University in St. Louis. He became an associate editor and later editor of the Academy’s journal Transactions.
Other organizations which Truhlsen has served as president include the American Eye Study Club, the Nebraska Academy of Ophthalmology, Omaha Medical Society, the medical staffs of Omaha’s Clarkson (1972) and Immanuel Hospitals, the Exchange Club of Omaha and Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
of Omaha. He has been on the board of councillors for the Nebraska Medical Association (1981) and president of the University of Nebraska chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honorary society. Clarkson Hospital honored him in 1985 with its Outstanding Physician Award. The Nebraska Affiliate of the National Society to Prevent Blindness gave him its People of Vision Award in 1986.
While he was a governor of the American College of Surgeons in 1985, Truhlsen’s home state elected him to the honorary position of King of Quivira as Ak-Sar-Ben
Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben
The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, , is a 501 civic and philanthropic organization in Omaha, Nebraska.-History:The organization was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide entertainment "other than saloons, gambling houses and...
XCI. His first connection with Ak-Sar-Ben was in his childhood when his father had served as an ambassador of the organization and brought Truhlsen and his young friends to Omaha for its events for boys.
The University of Nebraska College of Medical Alumni gave Stanley M. Truhlsen Sr. its first Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award in 1989. That year he also had the Omaha Health Citizen of the Year Award from the Combined Health Agencies Drive. In 2001 he received the Lucien Howe
Lucien Howe
Lucien Howe was an American physician who spent much of his career as a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Buffalo. In 1876 he was instrumental in the creation of the Buffalo Eye and Ear Infirmary....
Medal from the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS), one of the most prestigious awards in ophthalmology and the only award given by the AOS. From 1998 to 2010 he was also on the board of Durham Museum
Durham Museum
The Durham Museum is located at 801 South 10th Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying the history of the United States' western region...
.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center, where Truhlsen was on the faculty as early as 1951, gave him its Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and in 2009 announced that it would build a multi-million-dollar eye institute which will be named for him and open in 2012. Truhlsen had provided a key donation for the project.
Truhlsen has two sons and two daughters by his first wife Ruth née Haney who died in 1976. In 1981 he married Dorothy D. (Dottie) Johnson of Denison, Iowa. The couple traveled to his ancestral village of N. Sandby in Hässleholm
Hässleholm
Hässleholm is a locality and the seat of Hässleholm Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 17,730 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Hässleholm was gradually developed from 1860 in connection with the construction of the main Stockholm to Malmö railway line. There was no settlement on the spot before...
, Sweden (together with other American relatives of Swedish descent from California, South Dakota, Iowa, Maryland and New Jersey) for a large international family reunion in 1989.