Alfred Berthier Olsen (June 26, 1869 – August 8, 1960) was an American physician, Seventh-day Adventist and vegetarian.

Biography

Olsen was born at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin."Obituaries"
''Southern Tidings''. September 14, 1960. p. 22 His father was Seventh-day Adventist minister Ole Andres Olsen.''American Educators of Norwegian Origin: A Biographical Dictionary''. Augsburg Publishing House. 1931. p. 176 Olsen obtained his M.D. from University of Michigan in 1894 and his M.S. in 1896. He obtained his D.P.H. from University of Cambridge in 1910. He qualified F.A.C.P., F.R.S.M.,

L.R.C.P. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

and

M.R.C.S. Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (MRCS) is a postgraduate diploma for surgeons in the UK and Ireland. Obtaining this qualification allows a doctor to become a member of one of the four surgical colleges in the UK and Ireland, namel ...

in London. From 1924, Olsen was Professor of Physiology at

Battle Creek College Andrews University is a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists and is the flagship universit ...

for many years. He was Professor of Physiology and Pathology at the American Medical Missionary College. Olsen was active in the early development of Seventh-day Adventist medical work and conducted lecture tours in Scotland and Wales. He founded the ''

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'' journal and was its editor during 1901–1919. His brother was Mahlon Ellsworth Olsen. Olsen's book ''School of Health'' (1906) promoted exercise, hygienic practices and a vegetarian diet. He opposed the consumption of dairy products, alcohol, coffee and tea. Olsen was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Royal Society of Medicine. He died at

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on August 8, 1960."Deaths"
''The Michigan Alumnus, Volume 67'' (December 10, 1960). p. 135

Selected publications

''School of Health: A Guide to Health in the Home''
(with M. Ellsworth Olsen, 1906) *''Health for the Million: A Book of Practical Health Culture'' (with M. Ellsworth Olsen, 1908)
''How to Preserve the Teeth''
(''Good Health'', 1912)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Alfred B. 1869 births 1960 deaths 19th-century American physicians 20th-century American physicians Alumni of the University of Cambridge American health and wellness writers American Seventh-day Adventists American vegetarianism activists Christian vegetarians Fellows of the Royal Society of Medicine Seventh-day Adventists in health science Opponents of tea drinking University of Michigan Medical School alumni