# Albert Vander Veer

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American surgeon and educator (1841–1929)

Albert Vander Veer Born (1841-07-10)July 10, 1841 Root, New York, U.S. Died December 19, 1929(1929-12-19) (aged 88) Albany, New York, U.S. Education Albany Medical College Alma mater National Medical College (MD) Occupations Surgeon educator Signature

**Albert Vander Veer** (July 10, 1841 – December 19, 1929) was a pioneering [American](/source/United_States) [surgeon](/source/Surgery), credited with performing the first [thyroidectomy](/source/Thyroidectomy).[1]

## Early life

Albert Vander Veer was born on July 10, 1841, in [Root, New York](/source/Root%2C_New_York), the son of Abraham Harris Vander Veer and Sarah Martin.[2][3] After attending Union Free School, schools in [Palatine](/source/Palatine%2C_New_York) and [Canajoharie](/source/Canajoharie%2C_New_York), and the Canajoharie Academy, he began to study medicine under the direction of Dr. Simeon Snow, of [Currytown, New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Currytown,_New_York&action=edit&redlink=1), and later under Dr. John Swinburne, a physician and surgeon of renown in [Albany](/source/Albany%2C_New_York).[3][*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 1861 he attended a full course of lectures at [Albany Medical College](/source/Albany_Medical_College), and in 1862 a second course at the [National Medical College](/source/George_Washington_University_Medical_School), medical department, Columbian University, now the [George Washington University](/source/George_Washington_University), from which he was graduated in December 1862 with a M.D.[3]

## Career

In May 1862, Vander Veer enlisted in the [United States Medical Corps](/source/United_States_Medical_Corps), one of the original [One Hundred Medical Cadets](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=One_Hundred_Medical_Cadets&action=edit&redlink=1) called to service by the [Surgeon General of the United States](/source/Surgeon_General_of_the_United_States) army, they having studied medicine two years and attended one full course of lectures and passing a satisfactory examination, to act as interns in the military hospitals. After taking the examination he was assigned to [Columbia College](/source/Columbia_College%2C_Columbia_University) Hospital, and was soon informed by Dr. Crosby, surgeon-in-charge, that if they (he and two or three other cadets) would arise early and attend to all their dressings they could have from 2 to 8 in which to attend lectures, graduate, and get their diplomas.

After passing a New York state examination he was commissioned in December 1862, assistant surgeon of the [66th New York Infantry Regiment](/source/66th_New_York_Infantry_Regiment), and ordered to join his regiment at [Falmouth, Virginia](/source/Falmouth%2C_Virginia). Soon after he was detailed as assistant to one of the chief operators at brigade hospital, Third Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. In June 1864, on the recommendation of every officer in the regiment, he was appointed by Surgeon-General Quackenbush and New York [Governor](/source/Governor) [Horatio Seymour](/source/Horatio_Seymour), surgeon in charge of the regiment, with the rank of major. Soon after he was appointed one of the surgeons of the First Division Hospital, Second Army Corps, and placed in charge of an operating table. Here he gained his first actual experience in operative surgery that was henceforth to be his specialty. He was with his regiment in all their battles after the first [Fredericksburg](/source/Battle_of_Fredericksburg) except [Ream's Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ream%27s_Station&action=edit&redlink=1), when ill, up to the surrender at [Appomattox](/source/Battle_of_Appomattox_Court_House). At that historic event he had the pleasure of witnessing the meeting between General [Ulysses S. Grant](/source/Ulysses_S._Grant) and General [Robert E. Lee](/source/Robert_E._Lee). He was mustered out of the service in September 1865.

After attending a full course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, he returned to Albany in May 1866 and entered upon the practice of his profession.

In 1893, Veer was part of the executive committee for the first [Pan-American Medical Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pan-American_Medical_Congress&action=edit&redlink=1).[4] He served as member and president of the Albany County Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of New York the American Association of [Obstetricians](/source/Obstetrics) and [Gynecologists](/source/Gynaecology), and the [American Medical Association](/source/American_Medical_Association) (AMA), becoming president of the AMA in 1915. He was a delegate to the [International Medical Congress](/source/International_Medical_Congress), held at [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen) in 1884, and was elected honorary president of the Fifteenth International Medical Congress held at [Lisbon](/source/Lisbon) in 1906, having been appointed one of the commissioners from the United States government.

In July 1905, he was elected president of the [American Surgical Association](/source/American_Surgical_Association), having been a fellow since 1882, a member of the nominating committee, of the council, and twice president. In 1909 he was appointed by the United States government delegate to the International Medical Congress meeting at [Budapest](/source/Budapest), but was unable to attend owing to the illness of his wife.

He is the author of:

- "[Cleft Palate](/source/Cleft_Palate) and [Hair Lip](/source/Hair_lip)" in *Wood's Reference Hand Book of Medical Science*

- "History of General Surgery" in *Encyclopedia Americana*

- "Injuries and Diseases of [Abdomen](/source/Abdomen)" in *International Encyclopedia of Surgery*

as well as numerous articles in the leading medical journals at home and abroad.

In 1867 he was attending surgeon to the Albany Hospital Dispensary as assistant to Dr. Alden March; 1869, attending surgeon (with exception 1874-75, while abroad studying) until 1904, when appointed surgeon-in-chief; 1873 to 1903, attending surgeon St. Peter's Hospital; 1898 onward, attending surgeon South End Dispensary; consulting surgeon New York State Hospital for Crippled and Ruptured Children, [West Haverstraw, New York](/source/West_Haverstraw%2C_New_York); consulting surgeon Benedictine Hospital, [Kingston, New York](/source/Kingston%2C_New_York); consulting surgeon Champlain Valley Hospital, [Plattsburgh, New York](/source/Plattsburgh%2C_New_York).

Vander Veer filled the following important chairs at Albany Medical College: 1869-1874, chair of general and special [anatomy](/source/Anatomy); 1875–1882, chair of [didactic](/source/Didactic), abdominal and clinical surgery; 1882 onward, chair of surgery; dean from 1896 to 1904.[3] Vander Veer applied in Albany the first plaster of paris jacket for curvature of the spine; performed the first [Bigelow's operation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bigelow%27s_operation&action=edit&redlink=1) for [litholapaxy](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Litholapaxy&action=edit&redlink=1); first [Kernochan's operation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kernochan%27s_operation&action=edit&redlink=1) for removal of [infra orbital nerve](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Infra_orbital_nerve&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Meckel's ganglia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meckel%27s_ganglia&action=edit&redlink=1), reporting a number of cases.

In 1895 he was elected a [regent](/source/Regent) of the [University of the State of New York](/source/University_of_the_State_of_New_York), serving for six years; then by act of legislature the board was changed, he drawing the shortest period of one year; re-elected in 1902 a third time for a full term, the first regent to be elected three times by the legislature. At the expiration of this term he was elected for a full term of twelve years, being the only instance of any regent being elected a fourth time. In 1915 he was elected [vice-chancellor](/source/Vice-chancellor) of the board. On May 27, 1921, he was elected [chancellor](/source/Chancellor_(education)), but by reason of impaired hearing, resigned on September 22, 1921.

He was a trustee of the National Savings Bank many years; resigning January 1, 1910; trustee of Albany Cemetery Association, and president of the [Holland Society of New York](/source/Holland_Society_of_New_York). While vice-president of the latter society he, with other members of Albany, entertained the officers of the "Van Speyk" when visiting this country, received from Queen [Wilhelmina of the Netherlands](/source/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands) the order and decoration of [Oranje Nassau](/source/Oranje_Nassau). He was a life member of the [New York Historical Society](/source/New_York_Historical_Society). Through his own military service as an officer in the [Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) he became a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and [Grand Army of the Republic](/source/Grand_Army_of_the_Republic).

He was a member of Philip Livingston Chapter, [Sons of the American Revolution](/source/Sons_of_the_American_Revolution), the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society, and of Albany social clubs — Fort Orange and University. In his nearly fifty years of professional life, Vander Veer received the following awards:

- [Albany Medical College](/source/Albany_Medical_College) conferred an honorary degree of M.D.[3]

- [Williams and Hamilton College](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Williams_and_Hamilton_College&action=edit&redlink=1) conferred an A.M. (1882)

- [Union College](/source/Union_College) (now University) Ph.D. (1883)

- Columbian University (now [George Washington University](/source/George_Washington_University), [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)) in 1904 conferred LL.D.

## Personal life and family

On June 5, 1867, Vander Veer married Margaret E. Snow, daughter of Dr. Simeon Snow, of Currytown.[3] They had six children, three of whom survived into adulthood and became doctors. His brother-in-law, Norman Snow, was also a doctor.

Abraham Harris Vander Veer (1804–1888) Sarah Martin Simeon Snow (1803–1865) Margaret Dievendorf (1811–1884) Norman Leslie Snow (1838–1885)[5] Albert Vander Veer (1841–1929) Margaret E Snow (1845–1914)[6][7] Charles Anson (1868–1883) Margaret Snow (1869–1873) Edgar Albert James Newell Albert, Jr. Garrett (1885–1900)

[8]

Vander Veer died at his home in Albany on December 19, 1929.[9]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Dr. A. Vander Veer Dies at Age of 89; Dean of Albany Physicians Noted as a Pioneer in Surgery Field. Was in Civil War Battles Former Surgeon-In-Chief of Albany Hospitals--Ex-Chancellor of the State Board of Regents"](https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F10915F8355A147A93C2AB1789D95F4D8285F9). *The New York Times*. December 20, 1929.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cyclopaedia_2-0)** [*The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography*](https://books.google.com/books?id=4eA-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA188). Vol. III. James T. White & Company. 1893. p. 188. Retrieved August 25, 2020 – via Google Books.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nystate_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nystate_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nystate_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nystate_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-nystate_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-nystate_3-5) Hills, Frederick S. (1910). [*New York State Men: Biographic Studies and Character Portraits*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tH0_AAAAYAAJ/page/n37/mode/2up). The Argue Company. p. 38. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["S. Ex. Doc. 53-36 - Transactions of the First Pan-American Medical Congress : : held in the City of Washington, D.C., U.S.A., September 5, 6, 7, and 8, A.D. 1893, Part I"](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/SERIALSET-03162_01_00-002-0036-0001). *GovInfo.gov*. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Curtis, F.C. (January 1886). ["Obituary – Dr Norman Leslie Snow"](https://books.google.com/books?id=bDZYAAAAMAAJ). *Albany Medical Annals*. **7** (1): 17–25. Retrieved April 28, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Vanderveer"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58033216/vanderveer/). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. March 26, 1914. p. 11. Retrieved August 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Vanderveer"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58036549/vanderveer/). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. March 27, 1914. p. 11. Retrieved August 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:Vander Veer"](http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/hmgfm/vanderveer-1.html). Retrieved April 28, 2009. edited by Cuyler Reynolds, Volume I. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company (1911) 246–249

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Dr. Vander Veer of Albany Dies"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58031049/dr-vander-veer-of-albany-dies/). *[North Adams Transcript](/source/North_Adams_Transcript)*. December 20, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved August 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

## External links

- Media related to [Albert Vander Veer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Albert_Vander_Veer) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Works by or about Albert Vander Veer](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%20Vander%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%20V%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Veer%2C%20A%2E%20V%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Albert%20Vander%20Veer%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Albert%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22A%2E%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Albert%20Veer%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Albert%20Vander%20Veer%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Albert%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22A%2E%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22A%2E%20Vander%20Veer%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%20Vander%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%20V%2E%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Veer%2C%20A%2E%20V%2E%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Veer%2C%20A%2E%20Vander%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Albert%20Veer%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Albert%20Vander%20Veer%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Albert%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20title%3A%22A%2E%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Albert%20Veer%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Albert%20Vander%20Veer%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Albert%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20description%3A%22A%2E%20V%2E%20Veer%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%20Vander%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%20V%2E%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Albert%20Veer%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Veer%2C%20Albert%22%29%20OR%20%28%221841-1929%22%20AND%20Veer%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

- [Vander Veer Family Papers](http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/sc16580.htm) (Finding Aid), New York State Library

v t e Presidents of the American Medical Association 1847–1875 Nathaniel Chapman (1847–1848) Alexander Hodgdon Stevens (1848–1849) John Collins Warren (1849–1850) Reuben D. Mussey (1850–1851) James Moultrie (1851–1852) Beverly R. Wellford (1852–1853) Jonathan Knight (1853–1854) Charles A. Pope (1854–1855) George Bacon Wood (1855–1856) Zina Pitcher (1856–1857) Paul F. Eve (1857–1858) Harvey Lindsly (1858–1859) Henry Miller (1859–1860) Eli Ives (1860–1861) Alden March (1863–1864) Nathan Smith Davis (1864–1866) David Humphreys Storer (1866–1867) Henry F. Askew (1867–1868) Samuel D. Gross (1868–1869) William O. Baldwin (1869–1870) George Mendenhall (1870–1871) Alfred Stillé (1871–1872) D. W. Yandell (1872–1873) Thomas M. Logan (1873–1874) Joseph M. Toner (1874–1875) 1875–1900 W. K. Bowling (1875–1876) J. Marion Sims (1876–1877) Henry I. Bowditch (1877–1878) T. G. Richardson (1878–1879) Theophilus Parvin (1879–1880) Lewis Sayre (1880–1881) John T. Hodgen (1881–1882) Joseph Janvier Woodward (1882–1883) John Light Atlee (1883–1884) Austin Flint I (1884–1885) H. F. Campbell (1885–1886) William Brodie (1886–1887) E. H. Gregory (1887–1888) A. Y. P. Garnett (1888–1889) W. W. Dawson (1889–1890) E. M. Moore (1890–1891) W. T. Briggs (1891–1892) H. O. Marcy (1892–1893) Hunter McGuire (1893–1894) James F. Hibberd (1894–1895) Donald MacLean, 1885–1896) R. Beverly Cole (1896–1897) Nicholas Senn (1897–1898) George Miller Sternberg (1898–1899) J. M. Mathews (1899–1900) 1900–1925 William Williams Keen (1900–1901) C. A. L. Reed (1901–1902) John Allan Wyeth (1902–1903) Frank Billings (1903–1904) John Herr Musser (1904–1905) L. S. McMurtry (1905–1906) William James Mayo (1906–1907) Joseph D. Bryant (1907–1908) H. L. Burrell (1908–1909) William C. Gorgas (1909–1910) William H. Welch (1910–1911) John Benjamin Murphy (1911–1912) Abraham Jacobi (1912–1913) John A. Witherspoon (1913–1914) Victor C. Vaughan (1914–1915) William L. Rodman (1915) Albert Vander Veer (vice president) (1915–1916) Rupert Blue (1916–1917) Charles Horace Mayo (1917–1918) Arthur D. Bevan (1918–1919) Alexander Lambert (1919–1920) William Clarence Braisted (1920–1921) Hubert Work (1921–1922) George de Schweinitz (1922–1923) Ray Lyman Wilbur (1923–1924) William Allen Pusey (1924–1925) 1925–1950 William D. Haggard (1925–1926) Wendell C. Phillips (1926–1927) Jabez N. Jackson (1927–1928) William W. Thayer (1928–1929) Malcolm L. Harris (1929–1930) William Gerry Morgan (1930–1931) E. Starr Judd (1931–1932) Edward H. Cary (1932–1933) Dean D. Lewis (1933–1934) Walter L. Bierring (1934–1935) James S. McLester (1935–1936) James Tate Mason (1936) Charles G. Heyd (1936–1937) J. H. J. Upham (1937–1938) Irvin Abell (1938–1939) Rock Sleyster (1939–1940) Nathan B. Van Etten (1940–1941) Frank Lahey (1941–1942) Fred W. Rankin (1942–1943) James E. Paullin (1943–1944) Herman L. Kretschmer (1944–1945) Roger I. Lee (1945–1946) H. H. Shoulders (1946–1947) Edward L. Bortz (1947–1948) Roscoe L. Sensenich (1948–1949) Ernest E. Irons (1949–1950) 1950–1975 Elmer L. Henderson (1950–1951) John W. Cline (1951–1952) Louis H. Bauer (1952–1953) Edward J. McCormick (1953–1954) Walter B. Martin (1954–1955) Elmer Hess (1955–1956) Dwight H. Murray (1956–1957) David B. Allman (1957–1958) Gunnar Gundersen (1958–1959) Louis M. Orr (1959–1960) E. Vincent Askey (1960–1961) Leonard W. Larson (1961–1962) George M. Fister (1962–1963) Edward R. Annis (1963–1964) Norman A. Welch (1964) Donovan F. Ward (vice president) (1964–1965) James Z. Appel (1965–1966) Charles L. Hudson (1966–1967) Milford O. Rouse (1967–1968) Dwight Locke Wilbur (1968–1969) Gerald D. Dorman (1969–1970) W. C. Bornemeier (1970–1971) Wesley W. Hall (1971–1972) C. A. Hoffman (1972–1972) Russell B. Roth (1973–1974) Malcolm C. Todd (1974–1975) 1975–2000 Max H. Parrott (1975–1976) Richard E. Palmer (1976–1977) John H. Budd (1977–1978) Thomas E. Nesbitt (1978–1979) Hoyt D. Gardner (1979–1980) Robert B. Hunter (1980–1981) Daniel T. Cloud, 1981–1982) William Y. Rial (1982–1983) Frank J. Jirka Jr. (1983–1984) Joseph F. Boyle (1984–1985) Harrison L. Rogers Jr. (1985–1986) John J. Coury Jr. (1986–1987) William S. Hotchkiss (1987–1988) James E. Davis (1988–1989) Alan R. Nelson (1989–1990) C. John Tupper (1990–1991) John J. Ring (1991–1992) John L. Clowe (1992–1993) Joseph T. Painter (1993–1994) Robert E. McAfee (1994–1995) Lonnie R. Bristow (1995–1996) Daniel H. Johnson Jr. (1996–1997) Percy Wootton (1997–1998) Nancy Dickey (1998–1999) Thomas Reardon (1999–2000) 2000– Randolph D. Smoak Jr. (2000–2001) Richard F. Corlin (2001–2002) Yank D. Coble Jr. (2002–2003) Donald J. Palmisano (2003–2004) John C. Nelson (2004–2005) J. Edward Hill (2005–2006) William G. Plested III (2006–2007) Ronald M. Davis (2007–2008) Nancy H. Nielsen (2008–2009) J. James Rohack (2009–2010) Cecil B. Wilson (2010–2011) Peter W. Carmel (2011–2012) Jeremy A. Lazarus (2012–2013) Ardis Dee Hoven (2013–2014) Robert M. Wah (2014–2015) Steven J. Stack (2015–2016) Andrew W. Gurman (2016–2017) David O. Barbe (2017–2018) Barbara L. McAneny (2018–2019) Patrice Harris (2019–2020) Susan R. Bailey (2020–2021) Gerald E. Harmon (2021–2022) Jack Resneck Jr. (2022–2023) Jesse Ehrenfeld (2023–2024) Bruce A. Scott (2024–2025) Bobby Mukkamala (2025–present)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Albert Vander Veer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Vander_Veer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Vander_Veer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.