Cecil Wittson, MD, c. 1955
Item
Title
Cecil Wittson, MD, c. 1955
Date
1955
Description
Cecil L. Wittson, MD, was born January 14, 1907 in Camden, South Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina in 1927 and his medical degree in 1931. Dr. Wittson interned at Roper Hospital in Charleston from 1931 to 1932, then held various posts at Central Islip State Hospital in New York. He received post-graduate training at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in psychiatry and neurology from 1935 to 1938. In 1948, Dr. Wittson received certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
During World War II, Dr. Wittson rose to the rank of Commander in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving from 1940 to 1946. After the war, he came to Nebraska, where he became director of the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute in 1950 and held the position until 1964. During this time, he joined the faculty in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, becoming chair of the department in 1953. Dr. Wittson maintained these dual leadership roles until 1964 when he was named dean of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He became president of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1969, and in 1971 was named chancellor of the institution. He retired in 1972 and became chancellor emeritus.
After his tenure at UNMC, Dr. Wittson served as director of medical programs with Henningson, Durham, & Richardson Consulting Architects and Engineers (HDR, Inc.) in Omaha. In 1981, he retired to his native South Carolina. In 1985, he moved to Lakeland, Florida where he subsequently passed away at the age of 82 on October 10, 1989.
During World War II, Dr. Wittson rose to the rank of Commander in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving from 1940 to 1946. After the war, he came to Nebraska, where he became director of the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute in 1950 and held the position until 1964. During this time, he joined the faculty in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, becoming chair of the department in 1953. Dr. Wittson maintained these dual leadership roles until 1964 when he was named dean of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He became president of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1969, and in 1971 was named chancellor of the institution. He retired in 1972 and became chancellor emeritus.
After his tenure at UNMC, Dr. Wittson served as director of medical programs with Henningson, Durham, & Richardson Consulting Architects and Engineers (HDR, Inc.) in Omaha. In 1981, he retired to his native South Carolina. In 1985, he moved to Lakeland, Florida where he subsequently passed away at the age of 82 on October 10, 1989.
Identifier
4.7b.01
Rights
From the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives
Subject
Department of Psychiatry
