Paul E. Lacy Oral History

Interviewee

Paul E. Lacy

Interviewer

Richard G. Lynch, MD

Files

Summary

Paul E. Lacy was interviewed by Richard G. Lynch on December 17, 1979 for approximately 87 minutes.

Scope and Content

Lacy discusses his early research while in medical school and during post-doctoral training at the Mayo Clinic, which led to his interest in studying the islets of Langerhans and in the transplantation of islets as a cure for diabetes. Lacy also discusses his responsibilities as chairman of the WUSM Department of Pathology and the conflict between Barnes Hospital and WUSM in the early 1960s. He discusses colleagues, such as Edward Dempsey and Stanley Hartroft, as well as many other scientists whose research influenced Lacy's work.

Biographical Information: Interviewee

Paul E. Lacy (1924-2005) was considered a pioneer in the treatment of diabetes for his development of islet transplantation in the 1950s. He graduated from the Ohio State University with a BS in 1944 and a MD in 1948. Lacy completed graduate work in anatomy and experimental pathology at the Mayo Clinic and received a PhD in the discipline from the University of Minnesota in 1955. In the same year, he became an assistant professor in the Department of Anatomy at Washington University School of Medicine. It was during that time Lacy began his research of endocrine cells in the pancreas. This research led to led to the discovery and success of islet transplants as an experimental treatment for Type I diabetes mellitus throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Lacy was named the Edward Mallinckrodt Professor and chair of the Department of Pathology in 1961, which he held for 23 years until his retirement in 1984. Along with his work in medicine, Lacy was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and helped create the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Biographical Information: Interviewer

Richard G. Lynch, MD (1934-2009) was an experimental immunologist. He earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Missouri and an MD from the University of Rochester College of Medicine. He served on the faculty of the Washington University from the 1950s until 1981 and then served as the Chairman of Pathology at the University of Iowa from 1981-2004.

Interview Date

1979-12-17

Collection Identifier

OH041

Length

Approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes.

Restrictions

Users wishing to publish (in whole, or in part) content taken from the audio or transcript of this oral history interview must request, sign, and return a Statement of Use form to the Becker Archives. For detailed information regarding publication and use of this oral history, contact the Becker Archives (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).

Recommended Citation

Paul E. Lacy Oral History, OH041, Bernard Becker Medical Library Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.

Disclaimer

The Becker Archives provides access to this oral history interview as a record of the past. This interview reflects the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of the interview participants, which may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. The Becker Archives does not endorse the views expressed in this interview, which may contain materials offensive to some users.