Borden Institute | Fort Detrick, Maryland

US Army Medical Department Center and School | Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Pau l Sto n e joined the staff of the 

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in 

June 2007. Prior to that he worked at 

the Office of the Secretary of Defense 

Public Affairs in the Pentagon for seven 

years, where he served as a writer for the 

American Forces Press Service and a news 

coordinator for The Pentagon Channel, the 

Department of Defense’s news network. 

His career in military public affairs began 

in 1985 when he became the Media Relations Officer for the 1st Infantry Division 

at Fort Riley, Kansas. Subsequent positions 

include service as the Deputy Public 

Affairs Officer at the Army’s National 

Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; 

Public Affairs Officer, Los Angeles Army 

Recruiting Battalion; Deputy Public 

Affairs Officer, First US Army, Fort Meade, 

Maryland; and Editor, the Early Bird, a 

daily compilation of news affecting the 

Department of Defense. He holds a BA 

in journalism and mass communications 

and a BA in political science, both from 

Kansas State University. 

“For decades the AFIP has been the premier pathology institute in 

the world. . . . This did not occur by accident; rather it is the result 

of dedication, selfless service, and an unmatched commitment to 

excellence.” —Eric B Schoomaker, MD, PhD, The Surgeon General

AFIP_DJ.indd 1 
Legacy of Excellence

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

1862–2011

Legacy of Excellence

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

1862–2011

Paul Stone

Public Affairs Officer | Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Borden Institute

Fort Detrick, Maryland

US Army Medical Department Center and School

Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Martha K. Lenhart, MD, PhD | Colonel, MC, US Army | Director and Editor in Chief, Borden Institute

Christine Gamboa-Onrubia, MBA | Creative Director & Production Manager, Fineline Graphics, LLC

Joan Redding | Senior Production Editor, Borden Institute

Marcia A. Metzgar | Technical Editor, Borden Institute

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the personal views of the author and are not to be construed as doctrine of the 

Department of the Army of Department of Defense. Use of trade or brand names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the Department of Defense.

CERTAIN PARTS OF THIS PUBLICATION PERTAIN TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

NO COPYRIGHTED PARTS OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY

MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL (INCLUDING PHOTOCOPY, RECORDING, OR ANY INFORMATION STORAGE AND

RETRIEVAL SYSTEM), WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER OR COPYRIGHT OWNER.

Published by: Borden Institute, US Army Medical Department, Fort Detrick, Maryland, & Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stone, Paul, 1957–

Legacy of excellence : the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology,

1862–2011 / Paul Stone.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (U.S.)—History. 2. Army

Medical Museum (U.S.)—History. I. Title.

UH223.S76 2011

355.3’45—dc22

 2011000200

Printed in the United States of America

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Printing
 | v

Contributors | vii 

Preface | ix

Dedication | xi

Acknowledgments | xiii

Chapter 1 The Roots of Excellence, 1862–1882 | 1 

Chapter 2 New Horizons, 1883–1918 | 27

Chapter 3 Road to an Institute of Pathology, 1919–1945 | 65

Chapter 4 Growth and Maturity, 1946–1975 | 107

Chapter 5 Talent, Technology, and Transformation, 1976–2000 | 153

Chapter 6 Resolve and Perseverance, 2001–2011 | 199

Contents

 | vii

Contributors

Frank Avallone

Research Biologist | Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Fran Card

Visual Information Specialist | Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Dr. Adrienne Noe

Director | National Museum of Health and Medicine

Ridgely Rabold

Executive Assistant | Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Michael Rhode

Chief Archivist | National Museum of Health and Medicine

Kathleen Stocker

Assistant Archivist | National Museum of Health and Medicine

 | ix

Preface

As I look back upon the history of the Armed Forces Institute of 

Pathology, I cannot help but wonder what Brigadier General William Hammond, who first envisioned a facility dedicated to the 

pathology of disease and injury to the body, would think today 

were he to spend but a single day wandering the halls and laboratories of the Institute.

Would he be amazed that the Institute’s National Museum of 

Health and Medicine still contains items collected when he founded 

it as the Army Medical Museum in 1862? Would he be impressed 

by the advances in technologies, and more importantly, the advances in life-saving diagnostic techniques developed by generations of 

world-class pathologists and scientists who devoted their lives to 

advancing the field of pathology and eliminating disease? Would 

he be fascinated by the many and varied pathology branches, the 

thousands upon thousands of research protocols conducted over 

the years, the rapid rate that diagnoses are rendered, and the depth 

and breadth of the AFIP’s education and publication programs?

I believe the answer to all these questions is a resounding yes! But 

most of all, after surveying all that the AFIP has accomplished in 

its 149-year history, I think Hammond would be filled with pride. 

And as the Institute’s long and distinguished record of service to 

the military, nation, and worldwide medical community comes to 

a close, so too should all AFIP staff members be filled with pride 

—all of them have had one of those rare opportunities in life to be 

part of something truly unique and genuinely special. For decades 

the AFIP has been the premier pathology institute in the world, 

envied by medical centers and governments alike, and the model 

for others to emulate. This did not occur by accident; rather it is the 

result of dedication, selfless service, and an unmatched commitment to excellence. 

In a sense pathologists are the unsung heroes of military medicine. 

Despite the fact that their diagnoses and research often result in lifesaving treatments, most patients never know their names or where 

they work. So as you journey through this Institute’s rich and lasting legacy through the words and images presented here, join me in 

saluting its heroes, as I am sure General Hammond would. 

Eric B Schoomaker, MD, PhD

Lieutenant General, US Army

The Surgeon General | Commanding General

US Army Medical Command

 

 | xi

Dedication

In 1862, the visionary Army Surgeon General Brigadier General 

William Hammond issued orders to establish the Army Medical 

Museum, for which medical officers were directed to collect and 

document specimens of morbid anatomy and send them to the 

museum for further examination and research. By doing so, he 

put into motion efforts that would result in creation of the Army 

Institute of Pathology, which became the present day Armed Forces 

Institute of Pathology—a veritable treasure house of medical 

knowledge and a vibrant center for consultation, research, and 

education on the effects of disease and injury upon the form and 

function of living cells.

What flows on the pages that follow is a narrative and pictorial history of how the Army Medical Museum was gradually transformed 

into the AFIP, and how the AFIP became one of the most respected 

and revered medical institutions in the world. This book does not 

attempt to completely document in detail every accomplishment, 

which would require volumes; rather, it seeks to highlight major 

victories in the conquest of disease and the men and women who 

made these accomplishments possible. In many ways this is a rich 

family album, filled with portraits of the greats in pathology consultation, education, and research during the past 149 years—all 

connected by history and all related by their professional DNA. 

Because this is a work centered on celebrating advances in the field 

of pathology, what is notably missing from the book are portraits 

of those who served in supporting roles, such as the Chief of Staff, 

Legal Advisor, and First Sergeant, as well as the staffs of the Business Office, Legal Medicine, Safety, Scientific Publications, Human 

Resources, Personnel Management Division, Civilian Personnel 

Division, Information Management, and Logistics. But make no 

mistake about it, the achievements of the medical and scientific 

staff would not have been possible without their dedication and 

support on a daily basis.

And so I dedicate this book to both the present day staff and those 

who paved the way before us. All have contributed to the legacy of 

excellence that is the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Florabel G Mullick, MD, ScD, FCAP

Senior Executive Service | The Director 

 | xiii

The images tracing the history of the Armed Forces Institute of 

Pathology were compiled primarily from resources at the Institute’s 

National Museum of Health and Medicine, the editorial office 

of the AFIP Newsletter and annual reports, and the AFIP Public 

Affairs Office. The images presented were selected to highlight the 

Institute’s long and distinguished history. Although this book does 

not represent a comprehensive history of the AFIP or its personnel, 

we believe it does capture the heart and soul of the AFIP through 

each time period.

As with all publications, this book would not have been possible 

without the assistance of numerous contributors, and we are sincerely grateful to all who supported the overall effort. Dr. Florabel 

G. Mullick, Director, AFIP, proposed a narrative and photographic 

history of the AFIP to honor the Institute’s tremendous contributions to military medicine and guided the project from start to 

finish. Michael Rhode, Chief Archivist for the National Museum 

of Health and Medicine, provided valuable input in reviewing the 

chapters, especially the early ones. And he, along with Assistant 

Archivist Kathleen Stocker, was particularly helpful in locating 

early photographs and illustrations. Dr. Adrienne Noe, Director, 

Acknowledgments

National Museum of Health and Medicine, carefully critiqued both 

the content and character of each chapter and offered much needed 

encouragement and motivation along the way. Ridge Rabold, 

Executive Assistant to the Director, reviewed every page, provided 

insights, and gently prodded me from time to time when I tarried 

a bit. Fran Card, Visual Information Specialist, was instrumental 

in ensuring that pictures and blocks of text were ordered properly, 

especially when numerous changes were made in the chapters. 

The recollections of Frank Avallone, research biologist and AFIP’s 

longest serving staff member, were a source of both inspiration 

and knowledge. Dr. Ann Nelson, Chair, Scientific Laboratories, Dr. 

Isabell Sesterhenn, Chair, Department of Genitourinary Pathology, and Dr. Douglas Wear, Chair, Department of Environmental 

and Infectious Disease Sciences, were effective sounding boards for 

helping focus the concluding two chapters. Finally, numerous pathologists, scientists, and other staff members throughout the AFIP 

were both patient and helpful in locating literally dozens of images 

and assisting with caption information. 

Paul Stone | Public Affairs Officer

Legacy of Excellence

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

1862–2011
“Starting out as little more than three dried and varnished 

specimens placed on a shelf above an ink stand on a desk, the 

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, like most institutions 

that achieve excellence, was guided by a visionary—someone 

who saw a critical void to be filled . . .”