HUDSON, CHARLES LOWELL, M.D. (5 Aug. 1904-30 Aug. 1992) served as president of the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1966. Locally, Hudson taught at CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY (1935-77), advised the VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND (1957-65), presided over the CLEVELAND MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (director, 1957-62, president 1962-63), and practiced at UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS (1930-62), the CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION (1962-70), and the VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER (1946-62).
Hudson was born in Merrill, MI to Sophia Dunn Hudson and James Harvey Hudson, M.D., a general practitioner. He received an A.B. from Alma College, MI in 1924. After teaching high school in Manistique, MI, for 2 years, Hudson entered medical school. He received his M.D. from the University of Michigan School of Medicine in 1930, spent his internship and residency in Cleveland at University Hospitals, and then went to the University of Pennsylvania for further study (1932-34). Returning to UH, Hudson became chief resident in medicine in 1934. The next year he was promoted to assistant physician, joined the faculty of Western Reserve University, and opened a private practice in internal medicine.
With the exception of service in the U.S. Army (1942-45), Hudson spent his entire career practicing in Cleveland HOSPITALS and teaching at CWRU (retiring as Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine) and the Cleveland Clinic (associate professor 1962-70). He served as a trustee of the AMA (1961-68), the National Association of Blue Shield Plans (1962-65), and the Regional Medical Program of Northeast Ohio (1969-73), and served on the citizens hospital study committee of the BLUE CROSS OF NORTHEAST OHIO (1955-61), among his other extensive professional activities. On 29 Sept. 1937 Hudson married Ruth Strong; the couple had 2 daughters, Judith and Mary, and a son, Charles, Jr. In 1976 Hudson received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Alma College; he was also a life fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Charles L. Hudson Papers, Dittrick Museum of Medical History.
Charles L. Hudson Papers, Cleveland Medical Library Association Archives.