George E. Cartwright, MD

Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, 1967-1980

George Eastman Cartwright, MD served as the Department Chair of Internal Medicine for 13 years during which he significantly increased the size of the faculty and staffed many new clinical subspecialties.

He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1939, followed by medical school at Johns Hopkins University. After graduating, Dr. Cartwright was lured to the University of Utah by Dr. Wintrobe to serve as the first chief medical resident. He served in this capacity for only one year before he was sent to China at the end of World War II. In 1947, he returned to Utah as an assistant professor in medicine.

While at Utah, Dr. Cartwright became an internationally recognized authority on the diagnosis and treatment of Wilson’s disease and a pioneer in the treatment of hemochromatosis. His genetic study of both diseases became a foundation for the University’s outstanding genetics research program. With Maxwell Wintrobe, founding Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, he built a premiere and widely acclaimed hematology training program. In addition to his scientific and clinical leadership, Dr. Cartwright began a tradition of skiing every Wednesday afternoon, teaching fellows and house officers on the slopes of Alta Ski Resort.

He published more than 300 papers; was elected to numerous scientific and professional societies; served on and chaired National Institutes of Health study sections; and received many awards for his excellence as a teacher, mentor, and scientist.