Woolley, Ivan M.

Ivan Medhurst Woolley (1893-1967) was a Portland physician and author.

From the description of Ivan M. Woolley papers [manuscript], 1943-1979. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 695575159

From the guide to the Ivan M. Woolley papers, 1943-1979, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library)

Dr. Ivan Medhurst Woolley was born in Roseburg, Oregon on October 23, 1893. He moved to Portland in 1905. He went to Washington High School and took pre-med classes at Oregon Agriculture College, now Oregon State College. He attended medical school at the old Oregon Medical School across from Good Samaritan Hospital and graduated in 1919. His class was the last to graduate before the school burned down. To earn money while in school, he became the driver of a seven-passenger Pierce Arrow touring car on old Mt. Hood road to Government Camp. He was one of the first drivers to the Mountain. Years later, he wrote, “Off to Mt. Hood: An Auto-Biography of the Old Road,” 1959. He also worked as a medical officer at the police station during WWI. He interned at Ancher Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota then returned to Portland. He was licensed in Oregon in 1920.

For ten years he practiced general medicine, then in 1930 he went to the University of Michigan Medical School where he studied radiology. He practiced X-ray medicine the rest of his life, having an office in the Medical Arts Building, becoming Portland’s leader in the field until he retired in December of 1962. Dr. Woolley also worked and taught, sometimes, at the “Free Dispensary”. In 1923 he joined the Multnomah County Medical Society. At his death he was the Society’s historian. Before he retired in 1962, Dr. Woolley had been president and staff member at Emanuel Hospital and Portland Sanitarium, and staff member at Holiday Park Hospital. He was also a faculty member at the University of Oregon Medical School. He was a founder and president of the Oregon Radiological Society and the Pacific Northwest Radiological Society. He became vice-president of the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America. He also became president of the Oregon Medical Association, Multnomah County Medical Society, and University of Oregon Medical School Alumni Association. He was also busy with civic activities and served on the board of Albertina Homes, the staff of White Shield Home and was a president of Columbia Edgewater Country Club. He held membership in Rotary, Aero Club and the Oregon Historical Society as well as being a founding member of the early KGW radio show “The Hoot Owls.” Before his death, he wrote a second book, “Roentgenology in Oregon – The First Fifty Years,” 1954.

Dr.Woolley died of a heart attack on Friday December 29, 1967, while visiting in Claremont, California. He was 74.

Medical Practice Staff member at Emanuel Hospital Staff member at Portland Sanitarium Staff member at Holiday Park Hospital Faculty member at the University of Oregon Medical School Board member of Albertina Homes Staff member of White Shield Home 1920 – 1930 general medicine practiced in Portland, Oregon X-Ray Medicine in the Medical Arts Building until 1962

Memberships Multnomah County Medical Society Oregon Radiological Society Pacific Northwest Radiological Society American College of Radiology Radiological Society of North America Oregon Medical Association Multnomah County Medical Society University of Oregon Medical School Alumni Association Columbia Edgewater Country Club Rotary Club Aero Club Oregon Historical Society

Publications “Roentgenology in Oregon – The First Fifty Years,” 1954. “Off to Mt. Hood: An Auto-Biography of the Old Road”, 1959

From the guide to the Guide to the Ivan Medhurst Woolley Papers, 1924-1968, 1877-1979, (Oregon Health & Science University Historical Collections & Archives)