Richard Meiling

Richard Lewis Meiling, MD (1908 – 1984) was a leader of The Ohio State University College of Medicine across multiple decades. Among his many duties at Ohio State, Meiling was a longstanding professor, dean of the College of Medicine and director of University Hospitals. He was also the first to be appointed vice president for Medical Affairs at Ohio State. He continued to serve in this position and in his faculty positions until retirement.

Meiling was board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Preventive Medicine (Aviation Medicine). He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons; the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and the Aerospace Medical Association.

Nationally, Meiling was elected a member of the governing body of the American Medical Association and served for more than 20 years. He served as treasurer and president of the Ohio State Medical Association. He served on many committees of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Meiling conducted and published original medical and scientific work in the use of vitamin C, the application of radioactive Cobalt-60, in maternal mortality studies and in the “air evacuation” of military patients. His interest in medical education led to invitations to consult with several foreign governments, foreign facilities and many overseas medical groups.

Meiling also served on various university and state committees, including the Governor’s Task Force on Education Beyond High School; the Governor’s Task Force on Comprehensive Health Planning; regional medical programs; the University Advisory Commission on Problems Facing Columbus Schools; the Ohio Transportation Center Research Advisory Council; the University Patent Committee; the Faculty Council; and others.At the beginning of his education journey, Meiling completed his baccalaureate education at Wittenberg University. After completing his medical education at the University of Munich, Germany where he received his degree with honors in 1937, he came to Ohio State University Hospital in 1938. Meiling continued his graduate studies in Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Western Reserve University Hospital in Cleveland; served from 1940-1946 on active duty with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Air Forces; completed his work at Western Reserve in June 1947, then came to Ohio State as an assistant professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology and an instructor in Pathology.

Meiling answered a call to serve, first with the Hoover Commission on National Security, and then as a consultant to the Secretary of Defense in 1948. He then took a two-year leave of absence from July 1949 to June 1951 to serve as assistant to the Secretary of Defense, director of Medical Services, and chairman of the Armed Forces Medical Policy Advisory Council, all within the Department of Defense.

Further Reading:

Interview of Richard L. Meiling by Robert B. Sutton

Medical Support of the Army Airforces in WWII PDF

Meiling Collection Inventory available upon request from the Medical Heritage Center

Images of Meiling:

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