Vincent J. O'Conor, Sr., MD, Chairman, 1948-1960
Vincent J. O'Conor, Sr. succeeded Dr. Schmidt as Chairman at Northwestern in 1948. He was born in nearby LaSalle, Illinois in 1893, graduated from Michigan University, and then received his MD from Rush Medical School in 1917. He was reportedly the first urological resident at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston under Dr. William Quimby and served as a lieutenant in the Medical Corps toward the end of World War I. Dr. O'Conor's practice in Chicago began in 1920, initially at the University of Illinois, where he became an Associate Professor before his Northwestern appointment. His interests and great energy produced many articles on diverse subjects including vesicovaginal fistula, pelvic trauma, vasectomy reversal, pyeloplasty, electrosurgical treatment of bladder tumors, prostatectomy techniques, chlorpactin, and radioisotopes. He established the Northwestern residency program in 1945, was awarded the Keyes medal in 1960, and was actively working at the time of his unexpected death in 1963. Dr. O'Conor was a nationally prominent and popular figure, and he was often referred to as one of the real gentleman among Chicago urologists.
