Francis C. Wood

Francis Carter Wood (December 30, 1869 – January 5, 1951) was an American cancer researcher, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and radium for treatment of cancer. Wood was the founder and the founding director of the Crocker Institute for Cancer Research.^[1][2]

He was also the founder of the pathology laboratory at St. Luke's Hospital, and its director from 1910 to 1948.^[1] Wood was also a professor of clinical pathology and the director of Institute of Cancer Research at Columbia University.^[2]

Wood was born on December 30, 1869, in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from the Ohio State University in 1891.^[1] He graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in 1894,^[1] and joined the faculty of clinical pathology at Columbia University in 1896^[1] From 1906 to 1912 he served as director of clinical pathology at Columbia University^[1] and also served as the director of the pathology laboratory at St. Luke's Hospital from 1910 to 1948, founding it in 1910.^[1]

The American Association for Cancer Research called Wood an "international authority on cancer and pioneer radiotherapist".^[1] The New York Times called him "internationally known cancer research specialist who was a pioneer in the use of X-rays and radium" and said that Wood "is credited with many basic discoveries in principles of radiation".^[2]

• Chemical and Microscopical Diagnosis (1909)
• Cancer: Nature, Diagnosis, and Cure (1937)