Rudolph H. Kampmeier (1898-1990) was a Vanderbilt professor, physician, author, and editor. He was a true leader in American medicine and a leading authority on physical diagnosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Kampmeier served as President of the American College of Physicians and in his retirement published books on the history of Vanderbilt Medical School and the Tennessee Medical Association.

Dr. Kampmeier received his medical training at the State University of Iowa and joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1936. His two text books, Essentials of Syphilology (1943) and Physical Examination in Health and Disease (1950) are considered medical classics of the 20th century. In training medical students, Dr. Kampmeier insisted on the importance of history-taking and the value of the physical exam.

During World War II, Dr. Kampmeier literally ran the Vanderbilt Hospital and Department of Medicine by himself, with the assistance of practicing physicians from the Nashville community. He served as president of many professional organizations, most notably the Southern Medical Association (1964-65) and the American College of Physicians (1967-68). Dr. Kampmeier wrote six books and one hundred and forty papers. He also served as editor of five national medical journals.

For more information and pictures please see the VUMC Online Biography of Dr. Kampmeier.