Probstein, J. G. (Jacob G.), 1894-

Jacob G. Probstein (1894-1993) received his bachelor's and medical degree (1917) from Loyola University in Chicago. He served his internship at New Grant Hospital in Chicago (1917-1918). He was assistant in medicine at St. Louis University in 1919. He began his medical practice in St. Louis in 1922. He had a long association with both Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine. He also was associated with other hospitals, Barnes Hospital (1941-) and Homer G. Phillips among others.

At Jewish Hospital he served first as assistant in surgery in Jewish Hospital dispensary (1919-1921), assistant in surgery in Jewish Hospital (1922-), and later as surgeon and chief of surgery, 1946-1953. While he was also company physician to Famous Barr, Co. in the 1920s, he interested the May family in supporting research at Jewish Hospital. This led to a group being formed around Michael Somogyi in pancreatitis research and other diseases and led to the Somogyi test, a test for blood amylase. Jacob Probstein himself was a member of Somogyi's group which made such sigificant advances in the research and treatment of pancreatitis. Probstein's contributions to the medical literature are published in dozens of papers and two books.

During long association with Washington University, Probstein held teaching and clinical posts first in the dispensary and the department of surgery. In the dispensary and later the clinics he was assistant surgeon to outpatients (1921-1922) and then surgeon to outpatients (1922-1932). As early as 1924 when he wrote research papers on cases seen in the surgical clinic at the Washington University dispensary. He taught surgery at the Washington University School of Medicine and Jewish Hospital and anatomy at the dental school. He joined the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine in 1922, serving as assistant in surgery (1922-1931), instructor in clinical surgery (1932-1941), assistant professor in clinical surgery (, School of Medicine (1944-1956), assistant professor of anatomy in the dental school. (fl. 1950)., associate professor of clinical surgery (1957-1962).

He was well known in a wider circle when he was the last team doctor for the St. Louis Browns and later the St. Louis Blues (1967-). He also became friends with those in the entertainment industry such as Bob hope, Al Jolson and Sophie Tucker while physician at the Koplar family's hotel. Sources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 25, 1993; In Touch, April-May-June 1992, M.D., April 1992, p. 12; Catalogs, Washington University School of Medicine, 1923-1941

From the description of Jacob G. Probstein papers, 1924-1979 1924-1979 (Washington University in St. Louis). WorldCat record id: 220917663