George Eugene Moore (February 22, 1920 – May 19, 2008) was an American
doctor and
cancer researcher notable for his discovery of the link between
chewing tobacco and
mouth cancer. He was head of
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in
Buffalo, New York. He was the author of two books and more than 700 papers.
[Culver, Virginia]
"George Moore, 88, doctor, researcher".
'' The Boston Globe''.
Biography
Moore was born in
Minneapolis. He attended the
University of Minnesota where he earned his
medical degree and a
doctorate of surgery. As a 26-year-old intern at the university he pioneered the use fluorescent and radioactive materials to find and diagnose
brain tumors
A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and secondar ...
.
[Davis, Henry]
"Dr. George E. Moore, former Roswell Park director".
'' The Buffalo News''. In 1950 he was awarded the ''Samuel D. Gross Prize'', given every five years by the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery for the best original research in surgery by an American citizen.
["Samuel D. Gross prize".](_blank)
''Philadelphia Academy of Surgery''. From 1952 to 1973 he was the director of the
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, during which time he greatly expanded the institution's facilities and faculty.
[Pearce, Jerem]
"George E. Moore, 88, Cancer Researcher, Is Dead".
'' The New York Times''. He met his wife Lorraine P. Hammell while hitchhiking; they were married on February 22, 1945.
In 1954, with colleagues from the Institute and the
University of Minnesota, he published a study of male patients with
mouth cancer in which he reported that the majority of patients had been tobacco chewers thus establishing a link between tobacco and cancer. They also found that chewers often exhibited a condition known as
leukoplakia (irritation of the
gums as well as mouth lesions). This study was used as keystone evidence in the
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than ...
's case against tobacco.
He left the institute in 1967 when he was appointed director of public health research in
New York City. In 1973 he moved to
Denver to become professor of
surgery
Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...
and
microbiology
Microbiology () is the scientific study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, prot ...
at the
University of Colorado.
He had a multitude of interests aside from medicine as well. He was also interested in geology and was the president of the
Colorado Mineral Society.
He died of
bladder cancer in
Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is an unincorporated town, a post office, and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Jefferson County, Colorado, U.S. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Everg ...
, at the age of 88. He lived in
Conifer, Colorado
Conifer is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Conifer is located along U.S. Route 285 in the foothills west of Denver.
History
A post office called Conifer was established in 1894. Some say the community ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, George E
1920 births
2008 deaths
University of Minnesota Medical School alumni
American oncologists
Deaths from bladder cancer in the United States
Deaths from cancer in Colorado
University of Colorado Denver faculty
People from Conifer, Colorado