Claude H. Organ

Claude H. Organ Jr. (October 16, 1926 – June 18, 2005) was an American academic surgeon, medical educator, author, and medical leader. Organ was the first African American to chair a surgery department at a predominantly white medical school in the United States,^[1] served as editor-in-chief of the Archives of Surgery, and was the founding president of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS). He served as President of the American College of Surgeons from 2003 to 2004 and was widely regarded as a pioneering mentor and leader in American surgery.^[2][3]

Organ was born in Marshall, Texas and raised in Denison, Texas, where he attended public schools.^[1] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1948 and an M.D. from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1952. He completed his surgical training at Creighton and remained affiliated with the university throughout his early career.^[2][4]

According to later accounts, Organ was initially accepted to the University of Texas Medical School; however, once the administration became aware of his race, his admission was rescinded, and he was offered financial assistance to attend a different institution.^{[3] [2]}

From 1957 to 1959, Organ served in the United States Navy Medical Corps as a lieutenant commander. He was one of the few African American officers in the Navy’s medical ranks at that time.^[5][1]

Organ joined the faculty of Creighton University in 1960 and was appointed chair of the department of surgery in 1971, becoming the first African American to hold such a position at a majority-white medical school.^[1] He served in that role until 1982. He then became professor of surgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center until 1988,^[1] followed by a move to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he served as emeritus professor and established the UCSF East Bay Surgery Residency Program.^[6][1]

Organ co-founded the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) in 1989 and served as its first president.^[3] He was President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) from 2003 to 2004, previously serving as Second Vice-President (2001–2002). He also held roles as: ^[7]

• Chair, American Board of Surgery (1984–1986)
• President, Southwestern Surgical Congress (1984) ^[1]
• President, Western Surgical Association (2002) ^[1]
• National director, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (1979–1989)^[2]

Organ was known for mentoring dozens of academic surgeons, often reaching out personally to support their careers.^[1]

In the late 1990s, Organ led delegations of Black surgeons to Nigeria through SBAS. His goal was to foster surgical education and care across Africa. Though his broader dream of improving surgical infrastructure in Africa remained incomplete, his efforts laid important groundwork.^[1]

From 1989 to 2004, Organ served as editor-in-chief of the Archives of Surgery. Under his leadership, the journal expanded its focus to include ethics, healthcare policy, and surgical history, and regained financial health. He authored more than 250 publications and book chapters, and delivered named lectures internationally, including in Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.^[7]

Organ was married to Elizabeth Lucille Mays Organ for 52 years until his death in 2005. They had seven children, many of whom became physicians, educators, or artists.^[1] He was described as a deeply supportive mentor and family man who helped others through personal outreach and advocacy.^[2]

• Distinguished Service Award, ACS (1999)^[8]
• President, American College of Surgeons (2003–2004) ^[9]
• Nina Starr Braunwald Award, Association of Women Surgeons^[10]
• Honorary fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Royal College of Surgeons of South Africa, and the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland ^[2]
• Honorary doctorates from Xavier University, University of Nebraska, and University of Athens ^[2]

• Organ, Claude H. Jr. (1993). A Century of Black Surgeons: The U.S.A. Experience. San Francisco: Norman Publishing. ISBN 9780930405656.
• Organ, Claude H. Jr. & Organ, Carolyn L. (2002). A Century of Black Surgeons, II: The U.S.A. and Canada. San Francisco: Norman Publishing. ISBN 9780930405809.
• Organ, Claude H. Jr. (1988). "The Black American Surgeon: Problems and Progress." Archives of Surgery 123, 660–664.
• Organ, Claude H. Jr. (2000). "Mentoring: More than Passing the Buck." Archives of Surgery 135, 889–890.

Organ’s legacy continues through:

• Claude H. Organ Jr. Traveling Fellowship – A $5,000 award sponsored by SBAS, AWS, and NMA to support educational travel for early-career academic surgeons.
• Claude H. Organ Jr. Resident Award – Recognizes the top three resident presenters annually at the SBAS meeting.
• Claude H. Organ Jr. Memorial Lectureship – Presented by the Southwestern Surgical Congress.
• UCSF East Bay Surgery Residency – Continues to train surgeons under the values and curriculum he developed.

He is remembered as a trailblazer in academic surgery, a tireless mentor, and a lifelong advocate for excellence and inclusion.^[1]

• Archives of Surgery
• American College of Surgeons