Two medical conditions, the eponymous Gerstmann syndrome and the Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome, derive their names from this Austrian neurologist. His clinical observations expanded the understanding of neurological function, particularly regarding body image and cognitive orientation, which he documented extensively through a rigorous series of academic publications spanning five decades in both Europe and the United States.
Early Career and Viennese Training
Born in Lviv in 1887, he moved to Vienna to pursue medical studies at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1912. He subsequently joined the Clinic for Psychiatry-Neurology in the city, working under Wagner-Jauregg. By 1930, he held the position of chief at the Neurological Institute Maria-Theresien-Schlössel, where he conducted research on spinal cord pathology, cerebral cortex development, and the effects of malaria therapy on progressive paralysis.
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In 1938, facing the political instability of the Nazi Anschluss, he emigrated to the United States with his wife, Martha. His initial American career path included a tenure at the Springfield Ohio State Hospital and a role as a research assistant and consultant at St. Elisabeth Hospital in Washington. By 1941, he had relocated to New York, where he served as a research associate at the New York Neurological Institute and an attending neuropsychiatrist at Goldwater Memorial Hospital, while also maintaining a private practice located at 240 Central Park South.
Academic Contributions and Legacy
His research interests focused on neurology and psychopathology, resulting in numerous papers on finger agnosia, agraphia, and spatial orientation. He held memberships in various professional organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychopathological Association, the Psychotherapeutic Society, the Pirquet Society, and the Rudolf Virchow Society. Following his death in New York City on March 23, 1969, his influence persisted through the clinical syndromes that bear his name.
Fast facts
- Born: 1887, Lviv
- Died: 23 March 1969, New York City
- Nationality: Austria
- Alma Mater: University of Vienna
- Primary Field: Neurology
- Notable Eponyms: Gerstmann syndrome, Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome
- Language: German
Questions readers ask
Where did Josef Gerstmann practice medicine?
He practiced at the Clinic for Psychiatry-Neurology in Vienna, Springfield Ohio State Hospital, St. Elisabeth Hospital in Washington, the New York Neurological Institute, and Goldwater Memorial Hospital.
When did he move to the United States?
He emigrated from Austria to the United States in 1938.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Vienna
