George T. Lenahan, M.D.
(1904-1974)

By John A. Lenahan, M.D.

George Thomas Lenahan, M.D., was born February 2, 1904, in San Francisco.  He attended St. Ignatius High School and was graduated at the age of 16.  He attended the University of California and received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1924. After working for Standard Oil Company for a year, he attended Creighton University Medical School.  He was valedictorian for the class of 1929.  After interning at St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, he started a family practice in San Francisco.  Because of the Depression, he also worked part time as an emergency room physician, providing a steady income.

As his practice increased, he became interested in Dermatology.  In the late 1930's, he made arrangements to start his formal training at U.C.S.F. under Dr. Frances Torrey.  World War II interrupted his studies and he served as a Flight Captain for the U.S. Army in the Aleutian Islands.  In 1946, he finished his Dermatology training at the University of Southern California, and in 1947 he joined the clinical faculty in Dermatology at U.C.S.F. and taught residents until 1969 when his health forced him to retire.

One of his greatest gifts to dermatology was his chemistry background.  This allowed him to work with pharmacists to compound numerous products which were not readily available.  One example of this contribution was his decision in the 1950's to take 0.5% Aristocort and make it into a lotion so that it could be spread over a larger area.  Because of his chemistry background, he chose propylene glycol, introducing it to the pharmaceutical industry. However, he was proudest of the fact that, as a clinical faculty member, he was able to touch so many young dermatologists and teach them to be open and creative in their therapeutic approach.  He also brought to teaching a sense of humor, a great gift for story telling and an overall sincere, caring personality.

A favorite story he enjoyed telling was about a seven year old girl who started to cry inconsolably when informed she needed a "shot" in her buttocks.  Finally he was able to extract from the girl that her older brother had told her Dr. Lenahan gives shots from across the room using her buttocks as a dart board.  She was afraid he might miss the target.  After reassuring her that the injection was not given that way, he administered the shot.  Next he took Mercurochrome and painted a target with several rings and a bullseye on her buttocks.  When she went home, she was able to tell her brother, without smiling, that "Dr. Lenahan was the best shot!", while showing him the target he had hit from across the room.

Finally, he was also blessed by having the opportunity to help train his son, John A. Lenahan, M.D., as he attended his Dermatology Residency at U.C.S.F. from 1968 to 1971. George died February 14, 1974 in San Francisco, but not before he was able to see his son become Board Certified and take over the care of his patients.