UNIVERSITY OF MinnesotaMEDICAL SCHOOLDEPARTMENT OF SURGERY * MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455December 6, 1967Harold A. Zintel, M. D.Director of SurgerySt. Luke's Hospital CenterAmsterdam Avenue at 114th StreetNew York, New York 10025Dear Harold:Anent our prior conversations and exchanges concerning a Research Professor withresearch as well as clinical responsibilities, I write to suggest that Dr. Karel Absolontelis me he is definitely interested. He is planning a trip to New York and will bestaying, at the Statler Hilton Hotel and would like to come out to visit with you onTuesday morning, December 12.Dr. Karel Absolon comes from'a distinguished Family in Czechoslovakia. His Fatherwas a well known Anthropologist and Archeologist on the Czechoslovakia UniversityFaculty. He worked his way up the Academic Ladder by his own efforts. He came tous from Yale, where his research talents attracted the attention of several membersof the Faculty including Dr. Harry Greene, Professor of Pathology. Absolon is anextremely facile linguist and reads and speaks many languages. He did verydistinguished work here and I urged him to stay on until the right kind of academicopportunity came his way. Sometimes the waiting periods seem inordinately long toyoung surgeons in the Academic Arena. I believe that Karel would fit nicely andcomfortably into the opportunity you have, helping you to build a strong and productiveteaching and research unit.I am sending you Dr. Absolon's Curriculum Vitae and his list of publications as it waswhen he left here in the Fall of 1966, He is a true Scholar in the real sense with akeen interest as well as knowledge of Medical History. Absolon's paper on the BillrothSchool of Surgery is probably the finest in the literature. He has a great talent fororiginal thinking on problems. Absolon has a brilliant mind and a scintillatingpersonality. Increasing maturity also is making him a patient man.Holiday Greetings!Owen H, Wangensteen, M. D.Professor EmeritusDepartment of SurgeryOHW/mkjbc: Dr. Karel Absolon