Background
Butt, Hugh Roland was born on January 8, 1910 in Belhaven, North Carolina, United States. Son of Harry Frederick and Maybelle (Jarvis) Butt.
Butt, Hugh Roland was born on January 8, 1910 in Belhaven, North Carolina, United States. Son of Harry Frederick and Maybelle (Jarvis) Butt.
Student, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1927-1929; Doctor of Medicine, University of Virginia, 1933; Master of Science, University of Minnesota, 1937.
He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Virginia in 1933 and a master"s degree in medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1937. Butt was a resident at the Mayo Clinic when he made his most notable finding that Vitamin K stopped bleeding in patients with jaundice, previously a fatal condition. He later worked with dicumarol isolated by Paul Link, and conducted the first human studies that demonstrated its blood thinning properties.
He worked at the Mayo Clinic his entire career, including terms on both the board of governors and board of trustees and was widely considered the last link to its founders (he was supervised by William Mayo).
After becoming an Assistant Professor in 1943, Butt studied liver disease, especially cirrhosis. He was appointed full professor in 1952, after which he began focusing on administrative issues.
He was a leading advocate of continuing education for doctors. Butt served as president of the American College of Physicians in 1971 and 1972, and retired in the 1980s.
He died in Rochester, Minnesota.
Served as lieutenant Commander Medical Corps United States Naval Reserve, 1942-1946. Master American College of Physicians (president 1971-1972, Alfred Stengel Memorial award 1975). Member Royal College Physicians (London), Royal College Physicians (Ireland and Scotland), American Society Clinical Investigation, American Gastroenterological Association (president 1960, Julius Friedenwald medal 1979), Association American Physicians, American Association Study Liver Diseases (president 1956).
Married Mary Dempwolf, April 8, 1939. Children: Selby, Lucy, Charles, Frances.