C. John Snyder, MD, FACS

Director, Cancer Division, 1983–1984

C. John Snyder, MD, FACS, graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Chemistry in 1959. He received his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1964. In the early 1960s, he interned at King County Hospital (Harborview) in Seattle and completed a pathology fellowship at the University of Vienna, Austria.   

Dr. Snyder was a surgical resident at the University of California, San Francisco for three years starting in 1969. Part of his residency was under Dr. J. E. Dunphy, a former President and Chairman of the College’s Board of Regents. He became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1974.  

Dr. Snyder’s family was also involved in the College since very early in its history. His grandfather, Dr. Howard L. Snyder, attended the Clinical Congress in 1916 and proposed a resolution that was adopted the following year. His uncle, Dr. Howard E. Snyder, was involved with the Committee on Trauma for many years. Dr. Snyder was also associated with the Snyder Clinic Association since 1965. This private clinic was started by his grandfather in Winfield, Kansas, and Dr. Snyder became the President in 1976 and served for 10 years.  

On March 31, 1983, it was announced that he would become Director of the Cancer Department. Dr. Snyder began his term on August 18, 1983. During his tenure with the College, progress was made with many important programs in cancer. Under his leadership in 1984, 78 consultants completed 182 consultative visits and 56 surveyors completed 362 surveys. This led to 1,087 approved Hospital Cancer Programs, a record high number.  

In October 1984, Dr. Snyder left his position as director of the Cancer Department to resume the clinical practice of surgery.  

Written by Alana Swanson 

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