Walter R. Nickel
Encyclopedia
Walter Russell Nickel, M.D. was an American dermatologist who was one of the founders of the field of dermatopathology
. He was a co-founder and president of four different professional societies and was the founding chairman of the Division of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
, then earned his M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota
. He completed a residency in his field (which was then called Dermatology and Syphilology) as a Medical Fellow at the Mayo Clinic
in Rochester
, Minnesota
. Upon completing his training he went directly into the Army Medical Corps
, since World War II
was raging. He served for several years in Vancouver
, Washington, then was sent to the Philippines
until his discharge in 1946. He then moved with his family to San Diego
, California
, where he set up a solo dermatology practice, He continued in private practice there for more than 40 years, treating more than 100,000 patients.
) for more than 40 years and at the University of Southern California
for more than 20 years. His students at the Naval Hospital compiled a list of his aphorisms and sayings, which they called “Nick’s Nuggets,” as a teaching aid for residents.
When the University of California at San Diego opened its new medical school and hospital in the 1960s, he was the founding chairman of the Division of Dermatology.
He was very active in national dermatology societies and was a pioneer in the field of dermatopathology. He helped to established the field as a separate and distinct branch of both pathology
and dermatology. He was a founder of four professional societies and served as president of all of them.
In the 1940s he created the Clinicopathologic Conference, a study of individual cases from both the clinical and pathological standpoint, at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association. He personally organized the CPC every year for decades and it remains the most popular event of the meeting to this day. He was also instrumental in establishing the clinicopathologic conference in dermatology at the annual meeting of the Southern Medical Association.
He and three colleagues created the Self-Assessment Test for the annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatopathology. The test is still a major feature of the society’s annual meetings.
Founder and president, American Society of Dermatopathology
Founder and president, Pacific Dermatologic Association
Founder and president, Sonoran Dermatology Society
Founder and president, San Diego Dermatologic Society
Physician of the Year, San Diego County Medical Society, 1983
Citizen of the Year, San Diego City Club, 1983
eulogized him on the floor of the Senate and placed his obituary in the Congressional Record
.
The American Society of Dermatopathology gives an annual award called the Walter R. Nickel Award for Excellence in Teaching of Dermatopathology.
The Pacific Dermatologic Association named its annual clinicopathologic conference for him and a colleague, Louis H. Winer, M.D. The annual event is called the Nickel/Winer Clinicopathologic Conference, and the prize for the best case submitted is called the “Nickel/Winer Best CPC Case” award.
Dermatopathology
Dermatopathology is a subspecialty of both dermatology and surgical pathology that focuses on the study of cutaneous diseases at a microscopic level. It also encompasses analyses of the potential causes of skin diseases at a cellular level. Dermatopathologists work in close association with...
. He was a co-founder and president of four different professional societies and was the founding chairman of the Division of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
Professional
He graduated from Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, then earned his M.D. degree 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...
. He completed a residency in his field (which was then called Dermatology and Syphilology) as a Medical Fellow at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo 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...
in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Upon completing his training he went directly into the Army Medical Corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
, since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was raging. He served for several years in Vancouver
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
, Washington, then was sent to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
until his discharge in 1946. He then moved with his family to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he set up a solo dermatology practice, He continued in private practice there for more than 40 years, treating more than 100,000 patients.
Personal
He was married for almost 50 years to Mona Eileen O’Neill, a nurse and nursing instructor he met at the University of Minnesota. They had five sons. His family was the first in the United States in which five brothers all achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
Achievements
He loved to teach and was particularly in demand for his knowledge of dermatopathology – the microscopic diagnosis of skin biopsies. He taught residents at San Diego’s Balboa Naval Hospital (now Bob Wilson Naval HospitalBob Wilson Naval Hospital
Naval Medical Center San Diego , also known as Bob Wilson Naval Hospital and informally referred to as "Balboa Hospital", is a technologically advanced Navy medical treatment facility. Located within the grounds of Balboa Park in San Diego, the hospital has played a role in the history of San...
) for more than 40 years and at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
for more than 20 years. His students at the Naval Hospital compiled a list of his aphorisms and sayings, which they called “Nick’s Nuggets,” as a teaching aid for residents.
When the University of California at San Diego opened its new medical school and hospital in the 1960s, he was the founding chairman of the Division of Dermatology.
He was very active in national dermatology societies and was a pioneer in the field of dermatopathology. He helped to established the field as a separate and distinct branch of both pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
and dermatology. He was a founder of four professional societies and served as president of all of them.
In the 1940s he created the Clinicopathologic Conference, a study of individual cases from both the clinical and pathological standpoint, at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association. He personally organized the CPC every year for decades and it remains the most popular event of the meeting to this day. He was also instrumental in establishing the clinicopathologic conference in dermatology at the annual meeting of the Southern Medical Association.
He and three colleagues created the Self-Assessment Test for the annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatopathology. The test is still a major feature of the society’s annual meetings.
Offices held
President of the San Diego County Medical Society, 1964Founder and president, American Society of Dermatopathology
Founder and president, Pacific Dermatologic Association
Founder and president, Sonoran Dermatology Society
Founder and president, San Diego Dermatologic Society
During lifetime
Practitioner of the Year, Dermatology Foundation, 1981Physician of the Year, San Diego County Medical Society, 1983
Citizen of the Year, San Diego City Club, 1983
Posthumous
In 1989 when Dr. Nickel died, then-Senator Pete WilsonPete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
eulogized him on the floor of the Senate and placed his obituary in the Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
.
The American Society of Dermatopathology gives an annual award called the Walter R. Nickel Award for Excellence in Teaching of Dermatopathology.
The Pacific Dermatologic Association named its annual clinicopathologic conference for him and a colleague, Louis H. Winer, M.D. The annual event is called the Nickel/Winer Clinicopathologic Conference, and the prize for the best case submitted is called the “Nickel/Winer Best CPC Case” award.