Howard A. Rusk*

Howard Rusk was born in Brookfield, Missouri, in 1901. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1923. Then he put himself through the Pennsylvania School of Medicine by working various jobs, including washing dishes in the laboratory, serving as night orderly in the county hospital, and assisting in a colony for mentally and physically disabled patients. He also gave blood for transfusions every six weeks. He graduated in 1925.

Next, Rusk interned at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, where his salary was $25 a month. From there, he practiced internal medicine while teaching half days at Washington University. After many years of this work, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he conceived and organized the Army Air Force Convalescent Training Center.

Rusk later established the Air Force's Rehabilitation Services for casualties returning from combat. The program operated in 215 hospitals and 12 rehabilitation centers. For his valuable service, Rusk received the Distinguished Service Medal as well as the French Legion of Honor and numerous other awards.

After his military service, Rusk went on to head the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center. He founded the World Rehabilitation Fund in 1955 and served as consultant to nine U.S. presidents, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the Veteran's Association.