Interview with Grace Ederer

Abstract

Grace Ederer begins her interview with a description of her upbringing, her education, and her decision to enter the field of medical technology. She then recalls the early stages of her career and her work at the University of Minnesota from 1952 to 1982. Ederer describes the role of women in medical technology, the building of the new medical sciences building, and Dr. Gerald T. Evans’ efforts to reorganize the clinical laboratories and medical technology to integrate them into the Medical School. Ederer also discusses her decision to adopt a dog that had been used in experiments conducted C. Walton Lillehei on hypothermia in open-heart surgery. She goes on to describe her changing positions at the University, her teaching, her research, and her pursuit of a master’s in public health. She also talks about her interactions with Dr. Evans, Dr. Ellis Benson, and Dr. Lillehei. She then discusses the Medical Technology Program, her work with Barbara Tucker on laboratory safety and ethics, her work with Ruth Hovde and Verna Rausch, the changing curriculum, dealing with the high volume of lab work, working with graduate students, her experiences with Robert Howard, and efforts to establish a school of Allied Health Sciences.