Pillsbury, Donald M. (Donald Marion), 1902-1980

Donald Pillsbury was born in Omaha, Nebraska on December 29, 1902. Pillsbury earned his B.S. (1923), his M.S. (1925), and his Ph.D. (1926) degrees from the University of Nebraska. He began his career at the University of Pennsylvania as a resident in the Department of Dermatology and Syphilogy under Dr. John H. Stokes. He distinguished himself immediately and conducted studies on the chemistry of the skin. He concentrated on carbohydrates and from there moved to infections, water metabolism, and vitamin deficiencies. By 1935 he had been appointed Associate Professor; his tenure as a Professor was granted in 1945.

Pillsbury had a distinguished war record. At the beginning of World War II, he was appointed to gas war research. He also served as a Consultant on the Committee of Medicine of the National Research Council on matters pertaining to dermatology. He was appointed next to the Office of the Chief Surgeon of the European Theater of Operations. As the result of his work, Pillsbury won numerous awards including the Legion of Merit, the Medaille D'Honneur (France), Medaille de la Reconnaissance (France), and the Bronze Medal of Honor of the Health Service in France. He died October 9, 1980.

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