Kottke, Frederic J., 1917-

Frederic J. Kottke, B.S. (1939), M.S. (1941), Ph.D. (1944), M.D. (1945) University of Minnesota. Teaching Assistant (1939-1940), Instructor (1941-1944), Assistant Professor (1947-1949), Associate Professor (1949-1953), Professor (1953-1986), and named Professor Emeritus (1986), University of Minnesota. Baruch Fellow, Physical Medicine, University of Minnesota (1946-1947). Director, Division of Physical Medicine (1949-1952); Head, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1952-1982), University of Minnesota.

Frederic Kottke was born May 26, 1917 in Hayfield, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Science (1939), Master of Science in physiology (1941), Ph.D. in physiology (1944), and M.D. (1945) from the University of Minnesota. He served as a Baruch Fellow in physical medicine at the University from 1946 to 1947.

He devoted his professional career to the University of Minnesota, starting as a Teaching Assistant in physiology in 1939, becoming an Instructor in 1941, and advancing through the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of physical medicine, a rank he held until being named Professor Emeritus in 1986.

In 1949, he was named Director of the University’s Division of Physical Medicine, which three years later in 1952 became an autonomous department of the Medical School. That same year, Dr. Kottke was named the first Head of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He served in that position from 1952 to 1986.

Dr. Kottke was recognized as a renowned researcher and professor in rehabilitation care, and he built the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University to be one of the major providers of rehabilitation care in the Upper Midwest. He was also instrumental on the national level in passage of legislation to benefit people with disabilities.

He served as President of the American Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1960), Chairman of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1963-1969), and President of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1978-1979). He received numerous awards during his career including the Frank H. Krusen Award of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1979) and the Harold S. Diehl Award from the Minnesota Medical Alumni Society (1992).

From the guide to the Frederic J. Kottke papers, 1945-1984, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])