LITUANUS LITHUANIAN QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES   Volume 34, No. 4 - Winter 1989 Editor of this issue: Antanas Klimas ISSN 0024-5089 Copyright © 1989 LITUANUS Foundation, Inc.

LITHUANIAN PHYSICIANS AFFILIATED WITH U.S. AND CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES
(Part II)

MILDA BUDRYS, M.D.

Continues from Volume 34, No. 2, Summer 1988

III. Vytautas the Great University graduates

After World War II, the defeated western allies of Germany were faced with the fact that approximately 7 million non-Germans had settled in Germany during the war. About 200,000 of these displaced persons had come from the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. With the passage of the Displaced Persons Act in 1948, the United States began accepting some of these people. Approximately 27,000 Lithuanians took advantage of this opportunity and came to the United States.

According to the Lithuanian World Almanac, by 1953, in the U.S., there were over 300 Lithuanian physicians, many of whom had arrived during the post World War II period. A 1970 issue of the Lithuanian Medical Bulletin listed 418 Lithuanian physicians: 187 graduates of Vytautas the Great University, 106 graduates of German medical schools, 110 graduates of U.S. medical schools, 15 unknown.

Of those physicians who arrived in the U.S. during this period, some, particularly the females and the older physicians, chose to forego medical practice rather than go through the rigorous training and license examination once again. Others accepted positions in state hospitals or in laboratories where license was not required. Only a handful of Lithuanian physicians who graduated from Vytautas the Great University attained faculty positions in U.S. medical schools.

One of the first post World War II physicians who achieved medical faculty status was Dr. Milda Budrys-Budrienė-Kuršaitė. She was born in Lawrence, MA, and went to Lithuania in 1923. She attended Aušra Girls Gymnasium from which she graduated in 1935. In 1940, she received a medical degree from Vytautas the Great University. Dr. Budrys returned to the United States in 1946. in 1950 she obtained her license to practice in Illinois. In 1958, Dr. Budrys started to work at the University of Illinois Allergy Clinic. In 1960, she became a clinical instructor, in 1969 clinical associate and in 1971 a clinical assistant professor. In 1974, she passed the board examination (AB— Allergy and Clinical Immunology). In 1976, she obtained medical licenses in Florida and Indiana. In 1982, she retired from her medical practice and moved to Florida.

Dr. Budrys was the Lithuanian Medical Bulletin editor from 1965 to 1970. She has published several articles in various medical journals. She has been an active member of the Chicago Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society and the Allergy Society, of which she was president in 1973. She has written on medical subjects in the Lithuanian newspapers Draugas, Sandara and Aidai and also the magazine Medicina. Currently, Dr. Budrys is collecting information about American-Lithuanian physicians residing in the United States.

Another graduate of Vytautas the Great University — Dr. Vytautas Pavilanis was born in Kaunas, Lithuania. He graduated from the Gymnasium for Boys Aušra, and completed medical school in 1942. He started his academic career in Kaunas, where from 1942 to 1944, he was an assistant at Vytautas the Great University's Medical School Department of Pathology. After the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, he moved to France. From 1945 to 1947, he worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. He emigrated to Canada in 1948, where he currently resides. He works as associate professor in the Microbiology Department at the University of Montreal in Canada and is a professor and a science director at Armand Frappier Institute in Quebec, Canada.

In 1959, he achieved a specialty in Microbiology and in 1983 FRCP. He was a visiting professor at the Thomas Moore Institute, McGill University and at Toronto University. He has lectured on viruses, diseases at various universities including Sherbrook, Leval, Port au Prince (Haiti), Rome, Vilnius, Shanghai. He was also a consultant for the World Health Organization in Egypt, Lebanon, Haiti, Mexico and Japan. A prolific author, he has published over 129 scientific articles, both in French and in English. In 1977, he was honored for his work by Queen Elizabeth. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Science Academy and an active member of the American-Lithuanian and Canadian Medical Associations. He resides in Montreal, Canada (Autobiography).

Dr. Alvina Sabanas-Sabaniene-Wells, was born in Ryga, Latvia. She graduated from Vytautas the Great University's Medical School in 1939. In 1948, she received her license to practice in Illinois. She passed the Orthopedic Surgery specialty examination (AB - OS) in 1955 and became an associate professor at Northwestern University. She also maintained a private practice in Chicago. Currently, she resides in Arizona. 1

Dr. Justina Zirgulis-Žirgulienė, was born in Lithuania. She graduated from Vytautas the Great University's Medical School in 1940. Later she studied at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen, Germany. Dr. Žirgulis came to the United States in 1949. She obtained her licenses to practice in Illinois in 1954 and in California in 1981. Dr. Žirgulis worked at Chicago State Hospital from 1958 to 1965. In 1960, she received her board certification in psychiatry (AB-P & N). Dr. Žirgulis was a clinical instructor at Loyola University in Chicago (1960-1968). In 1972, she became a clinical instructor at UCLA. Currently, she is a clinical assistant professor at UCLA (Autobiography).

A mention should be made in Croup II of Dr. Antanas Gylys, (1894-1966) who was born in Marijampolė, Lithuania. He graduated from the University of Munchen, Germany with a Ph.D. in Philosophy as well as an M.D. degree in 1924. After his graduation, he returned to Lithuania, where he was appointed dean at the University of Vytautas the Great in the Department of Theology and Philosophy (1924-1931). He began teaching Experimental Psychiatry and Medical Psychiatry as of 1943. Dr. Gylys also maintained a private practice. Upon coming to the United States he was a clinical psychiatry instructor at the Loyola University from 1948 to 1958. In 1961, he passed his board examination in Psychiatry (AB-P&N) and in 1966 started to work in New York. Dr. Gylys passed away in Tuscon, Arizona (Son's Dr. J. Gylys memoirs).

Graduates from German universities

This group of physicians includes individuals who completed their medical education in German universities. Depending on age and family status, some found that they had to serve a tour of duty in the United States Armed Forces. Several individuals in this cohort distinguished themselves by attaining the rank of major.

Sixteen individuals chose to engage in private practice and to accept part-time faculty appointments as clinical instructors. A small number chose to affiliate with universities on a full-time basis. Several members of the latter group are acknowledged leaders in their areas of specialization not only in the U.S. but internationally as well.

Dr. Albertas Aviža was born in 1916 in Lithuania. He is a graduate of Eberhard-Karls University in Tubingen, Germany, class of 1952. He acquired his medical licenses in Illinois and Ohio. His specialty is Pathology. He was an assistant professor in the Pathology Department at the Chicago Medical School. Currently, he works at Veterans Administration Hospital, North Chicago. 2

Dr. Gediminas Balukas was born in 1922 in Alytus, Lithuania. He started his medical studies in Lithuania at the University of Vytautas the Great, but completed his education at the Innsbruck University in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1947. After coming to the United States, he was drafted into the United States Armed Forces. He acquired his license in Illinois in 1952. At the conclusion of his residency in Obstetrics-Gynecology in 1963, he became an OB-G specialist (AB-OB-G). He was a clinical instructor in the Gynecology Department at the Strich School of Medicine at Loyola University from 1958 to 1980. He has been engaged in various activities in the Lithuanian community, and holds memberships in the Lithuanian Foundation and the Fine Arts Institute. During the years of 1960-1961, he was the president of the Lithuanian Medical Society of Illinois. In 1973, he served as president of the Lithuanian American Medical Association. Dr. Balukas resides in Chicago. He recently retired from practice. 2

Dr. Voldemaras Bergen-Bergas was born in 1922 in Marijampolė, Lithuania. He graduated from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany in 1951. He has a private practice in Columbus, Ohio. He also is a clinical assistant professor at the Ohio State University's Medical School. He is an active member of the Lithuanian American Medical Association and its affiliate group in Ohio. Dr. Bergen is married to violinist Elena Kuprevičiūtė.2

Dr. Danute Bieliauskas-Bieliauskienė Širvydaitė was born in 1922 in Kaunas, Lithuania. She started her medical studies at the University of Vytautas the Great, but completed her studies in 1945 at the Leipzig University in Saxony. She is a Family Medicine Specialist (AB-FM) and is a licensed physician in Ohio. She is a clinical instructor at the University of Cincinnati. She currently resides and practices medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2

Dr. Birute Biskis-Biskienė-Ruškytė was born in 1922 in Kaunas, Lithuania. In 1949, she graduated from the Dusseldorf University, Nordhein-Westfalen, West Germany.

She has worked at the Argonne Laboratory as a cancer and virus researcher in the animal experimentation section. She received her license to practice in Illinois in 1956. She is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois, Pathology Department. She authored several scientific papers. Currently, she lives in Clarendon Hills, a suburb of Chicago. 1

Dr. Antanas Brazys was born in 1919 in Lithuania. He graduated from the Dusseldorf University's Medical School in Germany in 1950. He has held a license to practice in Illinois since 1957. He specializes in Psychiatry and is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois. He works at the Chicago Health Service Center. 2

Dr. Antanas Ciuris was born in 1921 in Lithuania. He graduated from the Friedrich Wilhelm University in Bonn, West Germany in 1948. Dr. Ciuris' specialty is family medicine. He has practiced medicine in Illinois since 1954. He was a clinical instructor at the University of Chicago's Health Science from 1974 to 1980. 2

Dr. Eugenijus Gedgaudas was born in 1924 in Skuodas, Lithuania. He graduated from Kretinga Gymnasium in Lithuania. In 1948, he received his medical degree from the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munchen, West Germany. He emigrated to Canada and worked in Winnipeg until 1963, when he moved to the United States. He was appointed as an assistant professor in the Radiology Department of the University of Minnesota in 1963, then was promoted to associate professor in 1964 and professor in 1969. He has served as a director of the Diagnostic Radiology Department since 1968. His specialty is Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

Dr. Gedgaudas received his license in Minnesota in 1968. Soon after coming to the United States in 1963, he started lecturing at various universities, conventions and symposiums. By 1985, he had made more than 150 presentations. He has been a visiting professor in Canada, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, Tapei, Bangkok and elsewhere. He was elected president of the American Roentgenological Society in 1984. That same year, he was made Fellow of Royal College of Physicians. Several years before that, he was accepted into the Royal Canadian Roentgeneology College. By 1984, he had authored 49 scientific articles and a book "Cardio-vascular roentgenology" in 1986. He is an active member of the Lithuanian American Medical Association. Dr. Gedgaudas recently retired and currently lives in Minnesota (Autobiography).

Dr. Meilute Indreika-Biskienė was born in 1923 in Moscow, Russia. She graduated from Hamburg University, Germany in 1948. In 1968, she passed her board examination in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AB-PMR). She obtained her license to practice in Illinois in 1954. She is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois and a lecturer at the Chicago Medical School. She also works as a consultant at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Holy Cross, Central Community and Marion Joy Hospitals. She has authored several articles. Dr. Indreika is an active member of the Lithuanian American Medical Association and its Illinois affiliate. She is a resident of the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. (Autobiography)

Dr. Irena Kaganiec (Gražina Kriaučiūnaitė) was born in 1925 in Biržai, Lithuania. In 1950, she graduated from Landės University in Munchen, Germany. Currently, she is an assistant professor at Rush Medical School's Department of Medicine and works at Christ Community Hospital. She specialized in Internal Medicine in which she was certified (AB-M) in 1961. She received her medical license in Illinois in 1952. She has z private practice and resides in Chicago. 1

Dr. Algimantas Kelertas was born in 1930 in Lithuania. He completed his secondary education in Germany, where he graduated from Hanau Gymnasium. After coming to the United States, Dr. Kelertas was drafted and served a tour of duty in the United States Armed Forces. He received his medical degree from Zurich University in Switzerland in 1962. He chose to specialize in Ophthalmology and passed his board examination (AB-OP). He is an assistant professor at Loyola University. 2

Dr. Stase Kerpe-Žukauskienė was born in 1925 in Lithuania. She started her medical studies at the Vytautas the Great University in Lithuania and completed her training in 1949 at the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munchen, Germany. She was certified in Pathology (AB-P) in 1956. She holds licenses in Ohio, New York, and Illinois. She has been a pathology instructor in 1950 and an assistant professor at Rush Medical School from 1978 to 1986. She has authored several scientific articles. Dr. Kerpe stands out from among her fellow pathologists as a patent holder of the Reagents for Specimen Fixation. She is a resident of Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago. (Autobiography)

Dr. Edmundas Lenkauskas was born in 1923 in Lithuania. He graduated with a medical degree from Heidelberg University in Germany in 1948. He has licenses to practice in Ohio and California. His specialty is Otolaryngology. He has been a clinical assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland from 1971 to 1985. Dr. Lenkauskas is an active participant in Lithuanian community affairs and resides in Wiloughby, Ohio. 2

Dr. Jonas Mileris was born in 1924 in Panevėžys, Lithuania. He started his medical studies at Vilnius University, and completed them at Med. Fak. George August University in Gottingen, Germany in 1951. After coming to the United States in 1951, he continued his medical studies at the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 1960. His specialty is Neurology (AB-N&P). In 1961, he was drafted and served in the United States Armed Forces. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he served as head of the Neurology Section of the Tripple Hospital in Honolulu 1957-58. In 1962, he was clinical assistant professor at Loyola University. From 1963 to 1964, he was an instructor at the University of Illinois. In 1967, he became a clinical assistant professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Presently he is engaged in a private practice in Bourbonnais, III. (Autobiography)

Dr. Vytautas Račkauskas was born in 1923 in Lithuania. He graduated from the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1960. He obtained his license in 1964. His specialty is Family Medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Family Practice Department. 2

Dr. Bruno Radauskas (1910-1985) was born in Krakow, Poland. He graduated from Friedrick William University in Berlin, West Germany in 1936, where he became associated with Charite Hospital in Berlin. Later, he returned to Lithuania and worked at the Red Cross Hospital in Klaipėda. After he received his license in Lithuania, he established a private practice in Marijampolė, Lithuania. After coming to the United States, he specialized in Psychiatry at Seton Psychiatric Institute and at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. He passed his specialty exams (AB-P&N) in 1956. He was clinical director at Spring Grove State Hospital and later head psychiatrist at Eastern Shore State Hospital. During the years 1973 to 1975, he was an instructor in Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University. 1

Dr. Petras Tunkunas was born in 1910 in Biržai, Lithuania. After graduation from Biržai Gymnasium, he entered the Agricultural Academy in Dotnuva, as a student of Veterinary Medicine. Later he went to Sweden, where he graduated from the Royal Veterinary Academy. From 1939 until 1944, he was a lecturer at the Veterinary Academy in Kaunas. Shortly thereafter, he went to Germany where he pursued additional training. He completed his training at the Vienna Veterinary Academy with a Doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine. In 1948, he graduated from Eberhard Karls University in Tubingen with a Medical degree. After coming to the United States, he obtained a license to practice in Illinois. In 1961, he passed the board examination in Psychiatry (AB-P&N). Dr. Tunkunas had not maintained a private practice. He was an assistant professor at the University of Illinois and an associate professor at the Chicago Medical School. He retired from active medical academic life and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. He has also been an active member of the Lithuanian American Medical Association. 1 & 3

Dr. Vainutis Vaitkevičius was born in 1927 in Kaunas, Lithuania. He completed his medical studies in Germany at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in 1951. When he came to the United States, he was drafted to serve in the Armed Forces during the Korean War.

He obtained a license to practice medicine in Michigan in 1956. He was awarded a Cancer Research Fellowship at the Detroit Institute during 1958-59. In 1961, he was certified in Internal Medicine (AB-M). In 1962, he became a clinical director at the Detroit Institute of Cancer Research. In that year, he received an appointment as an assistant professor at the Wayne University's School of Medicine. He was promoted to associate professor in 1966 and professor in 1969. That year (1969) he was elected by the students as the "Best University Professor". He is an active Lithuanian American Medical Association member. Dr. Vaitkevičius has published several articles. (Autobiography)

Dr. Jonas Valaitis was born in 1922 in Marijampolė, Lithuania. He started his medical studies at the Vytautas the Great University and completed them at the Eberhard Karls University in Tubingen, Germany. Upon arriving in the United States in 1948, he began working at the Columbus Hospital in New York. Dr. Valaitis also worked at the University of Chicago, St. Lukes and Augustana Hospitals. He was certified in Pathology (AB-P) in 1956. He is a clinical professor at the University of Illinois and chief pathologist at the Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago.

He received his license in Illinois in 1951. Dr. Valaitis is a well-respected and highly-regarded member of the medical profession, as well as an active participant in the Lithuanian community affairs. Since 1964, he was vice-president of the American Lithuanian Council and a member of its political committee. He is a founding member of the Santara-Šviesa Federation and its past-president. He has also served as chairman of the Lithuanian Foundation and its executive committee. In 1962, he was president of both the Illinois Lithuanian Medical Society and the Lithuanian American Medical Association (1981-1983). He became a member of the Lithuanian Medical Society almost from its inception in 1953. He played an active role in its affairs during the years of 1957-1959. He has been a director of most of the Association's programs. He has also been an active participant and contributor during most of the Association's winter seminars, conducted by young Lithuanian physicians. Dr. Valaitis has authored 27 medical articles, published in the American medical journals. (Autobiography)

Dr. Daina Variakojis-Variakojytė-Fricke was born in 1924 in Biržai, Lithuania. She graduated from Basel University in Switzerland in 1962. She received her license in Illinois in 1965 and became a certified pathologist (AB-P) in 1970. She was assistant professor in 1972 and associate professor in 1980 at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. She is presently an associate professor at Northt-western University in Chicago. She is considered an authority on Mycosis Fungoid and other lymphomas. She is an active member of the Lithuanian American Medical Association and has written many scientific articles. 1

Canada

The arrival of the first Lithuanians in Canada is not well documented. Fragmentary information reveals that most settled in Montreal, Quebec. The vast majority of the early immigrants came from rural areas. They, as well as their children, became laborers. Few sought a higher education. At the end of World War II, Canada admitted a large number of displaced persons. However, the new immigrants had to agree to spend a certain amount of time working as lumber men on farms or in the gold mines, as a condition of emigration to Canada. After fulfilling their obligatory assignments, they looked for work elsewhere. For physicians, this meant working in hospitals in preparation for taking medical licensure examinations. After receiving licenses to practice, the majority entered into private practice.

According to the 1980 Lithuanian American Physicians list, there were 58 medical doctors and 24 dentists living in Canada. Most had settled in Ontario (52 MDs and 20 dentists). The others settled in the province of Quebec. As of 1980, there were two physicians affiliated with universities in Ontario. According to Dr. Pavilanis, there were 15 practicing Lithuanian physicians and two dentists in Montreal in 1986. Of these, only eight were able to speak the Lithuanian language with much facility. Of the 15 Lithuanian physicians, seven (46 percent) were working in universities.

Dr. Marija Arstikaitis-Arštikaitytė-Uleckienė was born in 1923 in the village of Krukai, Šakiai County, Lithuania. She graduated from Aušra Gymnasium for Girls. She began her medical studies at the University of Vytautas the Great in Lithuania and completed her education in Austria in 1947. For a time, she worked at the St. Louis Hospital, Serology Section, in France. She emigrated to Canada in 1947, and received her license in Ontario Province as an Eye Disease specialist. She is now an assistant professor in the Opthal-mology Department at Toronto University. (Autobiography)

Dr. Algis Baršauskas graduated from the Ottawa University in 1971. He is a Social and Prophylactic Medicine lecturer at Montreal University.

Dr. Dalius Briedis was born in 1940 in Germany. He lived in the United States before emigrating to Canada in 1972. He received a BA degree in 1969 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and an MD in 1972 from the same institution. Since arriving in Canada, Dr. Briedis has been working as a "Fellow" at McGill University in the Microbiology Department. He has a license to practice medicine in New York state and in Quebec, Canada.

He specializes in Internal Medicine (FRCP and CPSQ). He was a recipient of various scholarships and has engaged in experimental research. He is a director of Infectious Disease, a Ph.D. candidate, and assistant professor at McGill University in Montreal. He also worked at Wilson College in Cambridge, Mass., the Rockefeller Institute in New York and England. He has published 22 articles and 5 abstracts. (Autobiography)

Dr. Vydas Gurekas graduated from McGill University in 1975, and is a lecturer at that university's Family Practice Department.

Dr. Alan Pavilanis, son of Dr. V. Pavilanis (see section III) was born in 1948 in France. He became a Canadian citizen in 1954. In 1969, he received his AB degree in Romance Languages from Princeton University in the United States and in 1973 an MD degree from McGill University in Montreal. He has licenses to practice medicine in the Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba provinces of Canada and the United Kingdom. He has been the recipient of scholarships from France, the University of Vilnius and McGill University. Since 1982, he has been department head of Adolescent and Youth Medicine at Montreal's Children Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Pavilanis became a lecturer at McGill University and in 1983 he was promoted to an assistant professor of Family Medicine. He is the author of 12 articles. He also is a member of the Lithuanian Medical Association and Fraternitas Lithuanica. (Autobiography)

Andrius Plioplys was born in 1951 in Toronto, Canada. He graduated from the Pritzker Medical School, University of Chicago in 1975. He worked at the University of Wisconsin, and Mayo Clinic, where he completed his residency in Child Neurology. He was certified in Neurology (AB-N&P) in 1986. He was a recipient of several scholarships: Neuro-chemistry (University of Chicago) in 1971, Neurophysiology (University of Chicago) in 1972, Neuro-lmmunology (Research Council of Canada) in 1986 and others. He is licensed in Maine and Ontario, Canada. Currently, Dr. Plioplys is an assistant professor at the Toronto University. He published 18 articles and 15 abstracts.

Besides medicine, he has an interest in art and has lectured about M.K. Čiurlionis and has had several exhibits. (Autobiography)

Dr. A.S. Popieraitis graduated from McGill University. He is a lecturer in the Surgery Department at that Institution.

Dr. Vyta Marija Senikas is a graduate of McGill University (1974) and is an assistant professor of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at that institution.

Dentists

Lithuanian dentists were always active members of the Lithuanian community as well as in their profession. They were founders of the American Lithuanian Medical Association and members of its various committees, delegates to conventions, etc.

Among the pre-World War II immigrants and their offspring, it was possible to identify three dentists that were working at the university level.

Dr. Jurgis Bložis was born in 1929 in Chicago and is the son of Jurgis Bložis, Doctor of Dentistry. Dr. Jurgis Bložis, Jr. is a graduate of Ohio State University, class of 1955, with a DOS degree (Doctor of Dental Surgery). For a time, he was an instructor at the University of Chicago. He was promoted to an assistant professor in 1964. In 1966, he was Ohio State Medicine section head and in 1968, became an associate professor at Ohio State University. 4

Dr. Jonas Bražinskas (Brazinsky) was born in 1894 in Shenandoah, Penn. He graduated from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Dental School and remained at that school as a professor. He had a private practice, but also was an active Lithuanian community member. Dr. Bražinskas belonged to XI Psi Phl Dental Fraternity and many other organizations. 5

Dr. Albertas Zelvis (1894-1964), son of Dr. Johanna Baltrušaitienė-Želvienė, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied dentistry at Maryland University, from which he graduated with a DDS degree. For a time, he worked in the University of Maryland Dental Department as an instructor. He was active in the Lithuanian Relief Fund, an organizer of the Lithuanian Library and has been a Veterans Post Commander. 6

Over time, Lithuanian dentists became less visible in the Lithuanian community affairs. However, the spark has been rekindled by the members of the younger generation. In Lithuania, dentistry was a woman's profession. Most of the Lithuanian dentists practicing in the U.S. currently are female as well. During the last two Scientific and Art Symposiums, Dr. Nijolė Remeikis initiated a program on Stomotology. Five females and two males, all academicians, lectured on this subject.

Dr. Gražina Austin-Baliūnaitė was born in 1940 in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 1967, she graduated from Northwestern University Dental School with a DDS degree. She went on to train in Periodontics at the New Jersey Dental College. Currently she is a clinical assistant professor at the College of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. She has published 13 articles.

Dr. Birutė Balčiūnas (Balčiūnaitė) was born in 1949 in Germany. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a DDS degree in 1975, and from the University of Indiana Dental School in 1979. Dr. Balčiūnas worked for two years in the United States Navy Corps. She is a director of the Myo-Oral Facial Pain Clinic and assistant professor in Oral Diagnosis Section at the Dental School of the University of Maryland.

Dr. Elena Liatukas (Liatukienė) was born in Kaunas, Lithuania. She studied in Germany and received a "Doctoris Medicinae Dentium" degree in 1949. In 1955, she graduated with a DDS degree from Howard University College of Dentistry, Washington, D.C. In 1959, she received her MS degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She lectured both in the United States and abroad.

Currently, she is a professor of Restorative Dentistry at the Howard University College of Dentistry and is continuing her research and collecting material in preparation of a text book. She was an editor (1970-1973) of a Lithuanian medical magazine.

Dr. Nijolė Remeikis (Remeikienė) was born in 1936 in Lithuania. She is a 1959 graduate of the University of Illinois with a DDS degree. In 1964, she completed work toward a specialty in Endodontology. In 1970, she was awarded a diploma from the American Board of Endodontics. She belongs to the Stomatology Groups Honorary Society Omicron Kappa Upsilon. She lectures frequently at the invitation of various organizations, including the Illinois Lithuanian Medical Society. She has published several articles. Presently, Dr. Remeikis is professor and head of the Endodontics Department at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.

Dr. Lina Tharp (Kriaučiūnaitė) was born in 1950 in Germa-ny. Studied dentistry at the University of Illinois and was awarded a BSD degree in 1974. She earned an MHPE in 1980. She is currently an assistant professor in the Prosthodontics Department at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.

Dr. Arūnas S. Vaitiekaitis was born in 1947 in Germany. He received his DDS degree from the University of Michigan in 1973. In 1978, Dr. Vaitiekaitis became a specialist in Facial Surgery and has a diploma from the American Board of Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery. He was a clinical instructor at the University of Michigan, School of Dentistry 1974-1975 and at the University of Detroit, School of Dentistry in 1979. From 1976 to 1977 he was a lecturer at Rayne Walters College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has published several articles. Currently he is in private practice in Port Huron, Mich.

Dr. Danguole Vitkus (Vitkienė) was born in Lithuania. She received her DDS degree from the University of Illinois. She has been a clinical professor at the University of Illinois since 1975. She became director of the Endodontics Clinic in 1984.

At present, there are 20 Lithuanian dentists in Ontario, two of whom are clinical instructors at the University of Toronto.

Dr. J. Birgiolas is a clinical instructor in the Surgical Department at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Rimantas Kirka was born in 1943 in Kaunas, Lithuania. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a DDS in 1968. He received his MS degree from the Loyola University of Chicago with a specialty in Orthodontics. He also has a BA in Psychology from the New York University. Dr. Karka has been a clinical instructor in the Orthodontics

Department at the University of Toronto since 1974. His special interests lie in Face Symmetry, Disfiguration and their effect in self perception.

Summary

Prior to the 20th century, 17 Lithuanian physicians had been practicing medicine in the United States. Of these, one was a lecturer of pathology at St. Louis University. During the first half of the 20th century, there were approximately 220 Lithuanian physicians in practice. Of this, 11 or five percent held university appointments.

After World War II, approximately 300 physicians emigrated to the United States. Nearly 200 had completed their medical education in Lithuania; slightly more than 100 had completed their studies in Germany. Among the former, 4 became affiliated with medical schools in the United States, and 20 or 20 percent among the latter. Over 250 have obtained medical degrees in the U.S. between 1950-1985; 41 or 16 percent hold university appointments. While there are medical professors, researchers, and administrators among them, the majority of those who hold such appointments are clinical instructors whose primary professional activity is private practice.

Given the changes taking place currently in the health care sector, many younger physicians are opting to practice medicine as members of a group, an HMO, or other similar groups. As a result, there is reason to believe that the number associated with universities will continue to increase. This paper also briefly reports on physicians practicing in Canada and on dentists in both countries. 

LITERATURE

1 Directory of Medical Specialties
2 American Medical Associations Physicians Profile
3 Lithuanian Encyclopedia, XXXII, pg. 46.
4 Lithuanian Encyclopedia, XXXVI, pg. 121.
5 Amerikos Lietuvių Vardynas
6 Lithuanian Encyclopedia, XXXV, pg. 143.