GLASSER, OTTO

GLASSER, OTTO (2 Sept. 1895-11 Dec. 1964), pioneer in radiology, radium therapy, and nuclear medicine, was born in Saarbrucken, Germany to Alexander and Lina Gentsch Glasser. He received his Ph.D in physics from the University of Frieberg (Germany) in 1919. In 1922 Glasser married Emmy von Eherenberg and emigrated to the U.S., serving at Howard Kelly Hospital, Baltimore (1922- 23); the Dept. of Biophysical Research, Cleveland Clinic (1923-24); and New York Postgraduate Medical School, Columbia (1925-27) before returning to Cleveland in 1927 as head of the Dept. of Biophysics at the CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION (1926-61); as emeritus consultant from 1961-64.

In collaboration with Dr. U. V. Portmann and Valentine B. Seitz, Glasser developed the condenser dosimeter to measure x-rays and radiation. Following WORLD WAR II, he was interested in the medical applications of radioactive isotopes, being one of the first scientists to measure radioactive fallout and helping standardize the measurement of radioactivity. In addition, Glasser, with Dr. Irvine Page, worked in hemorrhagic shock and arterial transfusions; was one of the first to work in aviation medicine; and with Dr. GEO. W. CRILE, SR., simulated "bends" in animals to test physiologic results and treatments. Glasser was the world's authority on Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, the discoverer of x-rays, publishing a life of Roentgen in 1931 in German and in English in 1933 and 1934. He published over 100 scientific articles and several books and received many honors. Otto and Emmy Glasser had 1 daughter, Hannelore Glasser.


Otto Glasser Papers, Archives, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.


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