Willard J Visek, MD, PhD (1922–2014),

Steven K. Clinton; John W. Erdman

doi:10.3945/jn.114.204016

Willard J Visek, MD, PhD (1922–2014)^,

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	381-384
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Nutrition
Volume	145
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.114.204016
State	Published - Mar 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Nutrition and Dietetics

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10.3945/jn.114.204016

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@article{f633f6a265b24456aa2123fb601ca265,

title = "Willard J Visek, MD, PhD (1922–2014),",

author = "Clinton, {Steven K.} and Erdman, {John W.}",

note = "Funding Information: By 1947, Willard had returned to the University of Nebraska and completed his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Sciences. With advice from his professors, he was encouraged to pursue graduate training. With the support of the GI bill and a Fellowship in Agriculture, he enrolled at one of the nation's pre-eminent Departments of Animal Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca. Willard completed his MS (1949) and PhD (1951) training under the mentorship of Dr. JK Loosli, who was one of the eminent nutritional scholars in animal sciences. Willard was one of the pioneers in the application of radioisotopes to the study of nutrient metabolism. Their studies of calcium (Ca 45 ) metabolism in cattle, goats, and pigs were a landmark in the application of new technology to biomedical nutrition research ( 1–4 ). The “atomic age” was a popular phrase in the 1950s, coupled with a feeling of optimism that nuclear technology would provide a safe power resource both on earth and for space travel, that irradiation of food would enhance food preservation and safety, and nuclear-based medicine would play a key role in the cure of many diseases. On the basis of his graduate experience, Willard was awarded an Atomic Energy Commission Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, affiliated with the University of Tennessee (1951–1953), where he continued to study mineral metabolism with 45 Ca ( 4 ) and conducted the first studies showing chromium ( 51 Cr) biodistribution in vivo ( 5 ). Willard fondly recalled the mentorship and support of Dr. Cyril L Comar, the director of the program and Colonel John H Rust of the Army Veterinary Corps, who famously reported to the public the cancerous conditions found in cattle that were grazed downwind of atomic bomb testing in the Southwest. Rust encouraged Willard to apply his research experience to humans and offered a personal seed loan to support Willard's subsequent training at the University of Chicago (1953–1957), where he graduated with his medical degree (MD) in 1957 and remained at the university for completion of his rigorous medical internship. ",

year = "2015",

month = mar,

doi = "10.3945/jn.114.204016",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "145",

pages = "381--384",

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T1 - Willard J Visek, MD, PhD (1922–2014),

AU - Clinton, Steven K.

AU - Erdman, John W.

N1 - Funding Information: By 1947, Willard had returned to the University of Nebraska and completed his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Sciences. With advice from his professors, he was encouraged to pursue graduate training. With the support of the GI bill and a Fellowship in Agriculture, he enrolled at one of the nation's pre-eminent Departments of Animal Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca. Willard completed his MS (1949) and PhD (1951) training under the mentorship of Dr. JK Loosli, who was one of the eminent nutritional scholars in animal sciences. Willard was one of the pioneers in the application of radioisotopes to the study of nutrient metabolism. Their studies of calcium (Ca 45 ) metabolism in cattle, goats, and pigs were a landmark in the application of new technology to biomedical nutrition research ( 1–4 ). The “atomic age” was a popular phrase in the 1950s, coupled with a feeling of optimism that nuclear technology would provide a safe power resource both on earth and for space travel, that irradiation of food would enhance food preservation and safety, and nuclear-based medicine would play a key role in the cure of many diseases. On the basis of his graduate experience, Willard was awarded an Atomic Energy Commission Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, affiliated with the University of Tennessee (1951–1953), where he continued to study mineral metabolism with 45 Ca ( 4 ) and conducted the first studies showing chromium ( 51 Cr) biodistribution in vivo ( 5 ). Willard fondly recalled the mentorship and support of Dr. Cyril L Comar, the director of the program and Colonel John H Rust of the Army Veterinary Corps, who famously reported to the public the cancerous conditions found in cattle that were grazed downwind of atomic bomb testing in the Southwest. Rust encouraged Willard to apply his research experience to humans and offered a personal seed loan to support Willard's subsequent training at the University of Chicago (1953–1957), where he graduated with his medical degree (MD) in 1957 and remained at the university for completion of his rigorous medical internship.

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