Robert Clyde Lynch was an American physician. He served as a surgeon at the New Orleans Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital.
Background
Robert Clyde Lynch was born on September 8, 1880, in Carson City, Nevada, United States, the only child of William Mercer Lynch and Minerva Ann Maitlen, the former of English-Bohemian, the latter of English descent. When the son was three years old, the family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, the father, who was an assayer, having been transferred from the Carson City to the New Orleans Mint. The family so completely adapted itself to the strange but sympathetic environment that the son always felt himself to be a native of the city.
Education
Lynch was educated at McDonogh School, Number 9, at the Warren Easton Boys' High School, and at the Tulane University of Louisiana, receiving from the latter, on April 29, 1903, the degree of Doctor of Medicine, with special honors.
Career
Lynch began the practice of medicine at Natchitoches, Louisiana under almost frontier conditions, being sometimes compelled to spend the whole day in the saddle in order to make the rounds of his patients. Before he left this community he had so far overcome difficulties as to have succeeded in organizing a little hospital, the staff consisting of himself and one nurse. Upon his return to New Orleans, in January 1906, he began intensive preparation for his specialty at the local Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital.
From September 1906 until April 1907 he rounded out his special training in Europe, under the direction of distinguished specialists in London, Paris, Vienna, and Freiburg. For three years he practised independently, then he became associated with Dr. A. W. De Roaldes, at that time surgeon-in-charge of the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. After the death of his senior, Lynch was appointed to his position at the hospital.
In 1911 Lynch was appointed to the faculty of the post-graduate school of medicine of Tulane University. From this date until the time of his death he served his university in various capacities as professor of rhinology and otolaryngology, in both the undergraduate and graduate schools of medicine, as well as on various administrative committees which directed advanced study in the medical sciences. Here, too, he won respect for his administrative talent and for his high ideals of medical education.
In 1924 he was made acting surgeon-in-chief and in 1930, surgeon-in-chief. In these capacities he proved himself an unusually able administrator. During this period and until his death, he was also consultant in otolaryngology at the Touro Infirmary. For the period of the Great War, he served as a contract surgeon, in the capacity of medical examiner in the aviation corps.
Achievements
Lynch won particular distinction for his improvement of suspension laryngoscopy, for his outstanding contributions to operative treatment of cancer of the larynx, and for his development of the radical frontal sinus operation, now known as the "Lynch operation. " He was the first to make successful moving pictures of the larynx and the vocal cords. Some twenty-five articles dealing with his contributions he published in medical journals.
Membership
In 1924 Lynch was president of the American Bronchoscopic Society and at the time of his death he was chairman of the otolaryngological section of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology.
Personality
Lynch was admired as a great surgeon, demonstrator, and teacher, and was loved for his personal qualities.
Connections
In August 1906 Lynch was married to Amanda Cecile Genin, a member of an old French Louisiana family.
