Alvin H. Follingstad oral history collection

Collection

Identifier: HHC 1333

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This interview with Dr. Alvin H. Follingstad (1905-1989), a general surgeon of Albuquerque, New Mexico, surveys his long career in New Mexico. Originally (1939-1942) a small-town general practitioner, Dr. Follingstad set up his practice in general surgery and gynecology in Albuquerque after the Second World War and practiced there continuously until his retirement in 1981. Among the subjects discussed in this interview are his medical education and training; World War II service; rural/small town practice in Clayton and Springer, New Mexico; the advent of modern antibiotics; the Albuquerque physician community and medical facilities in the 1940s and 1950s; the birth and early years of Bernalillo County-Indian Hospital; and other topics.

Dates

1984 March 14

Creator

Spidle, Jake W., 1941- (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Biographical / Historical

Dr. Alvin H. Follingstad (1905-1989) was a general surgeon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born in Illinois, Follingstad received his MD from Northwestern University Medical School in 1933. He practiced in Bloomington, Illinois from 1935-1938 before opening a private practice in Clayton, New Mexico in 1938. After a year, Follingstad opened a family practice in Springer, New Mexico and stayed there until 1942 - when he joined the U.S. Army Medical (Army Air) Corps.

In 1946 he opened a private practice in general surgery and gynecology in Albuquerque, which he operated until 1976. He then was part of a group practice at the Lovelace Clinic until 1981. Follingstad was also a clinical associate in surgery and a teacher at the Bernalillo County Indian Hospital (later UNMH) from 1954-1984 and was chief of surgery at the hospital from 1960-1961.