In Memoriam: John Corrin Hutchinson, MD
John Corrin Hutchinson, MD, or “Hutch” to many, professor emeritus and Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, passed away peacefully on Jan. 14, 2012. He was 84.
John Corrin Hutchinson, MD
Hutchinson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of a physician and naval officer. He attended the Blake School in Minnesota, and went on to receive both his undergraduate degree in Physics and MD degree from Harvard University in 1954. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Minnesota. Hutchinson served as the assistant medical director of the Cardiopulmonary Lab, U.S. Naval Hospital in Chelsea Massachusetts from 1959 to 1961.
Hutchinson came to UCSF in 1961 as a USPHS Trainee in Cardiology at the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), and was a Research Fellow at the CVRI from 1964 to 1965. He was an assistant clinical professor of medicine and surgery at UCSF from 1964 to 1975, and a clinical professor of medicine and surgery at UCSF, from 1975 until his retirement.
His promotion to associate clinical professor stemmed from his serving as the liaison cardiologist to the Division of Cardiac Surgery. As the cardiologist associated with the cardiac surgery team, he operated the bypass pump during open heart surgery, was responsible for pre- and post-operative care, and taught not only the medical students and medical house staff, but the surgical house staff as well.
Uniformly over the years, students, residents, nurses, and peers evaluated Hutchinson’s teaching and his professional competence in the highest possible terms. Because of his contributions to the Cardiac Surgery Division, he ultimately received a joint appointment with medicine and surgery.
Hutchinson published numerous articles in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Lancet, American Journal of Surgery, Circulation, and contributed a chapter in "The Handbook of Surgery."
Hutchinson wrote, in part, for the Harvard 50th Anniversary Report:
"I’m semi-retired from my activities at University of California, San Francisco, where I have been a clinical professor of medicine and surgery. Five years ago we moved from San Francisco to Sausalito, where we have a grand view of sky, water, and maritime traffic. Our four children are all nearby, so we see them often.
Retirement invites new personal developments. Here in Sausalito we have a great place to sail, which I enjoy with its beauty and simplicity. I sing with the wonderful San Francisco Choral Society and enjoy the perpetual search for artistic excellence. After sixty years of singing, I am taking voice lessons and am still getting better.
Many of us in medicine see health care going down the tubes. Someone needs to step us to the plate and lead us out of the mess. Monetarization is draining the ethical blood out of the historically charitable profession."
Hutchinson is survived by his wife, four children, and four grandchildren.
Donations in his memory can be made to the UCSF Department of Cardiology.