Former Medical School Dean N.L. "Neal" Gault Dies

Gault was known for his scholarship support, tireless volunteerism and commitment to international collaboration

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Dec. 12, 2008) – N. L. (Neal) Gault Jr., M.D., beloved former dean and alumnus of the Medical School, died yesterday of pancreatic cancer at his St. Paul home. He was 88.

“We are saddened at the loss of Neal Gault, who was a devoted advocate for our Medical School and its students throughout his tenure as dean and well into his retirement,” said Medical School Dean Deborah Powell, M.D. “During his time as a student and faculty member, he inspired countless classmates, colleagues and students; established partnerships with medical schools across the world; advocated tirelessly for medical students and healed patients from all walks of life.”

Dean of the Medical School from 1972 to 1984, Gault was known for his commitment to students, especially for helping them deal with the financial pressures of medical school. This commitment led Gault and his wife Sarah, a University alumna and physician who passed away in 1994, to create several funds to help medical students finance their education. Additionally, he helped establish the world’s first endowed chair in sexual health at the University and served on the leadership advisory council for the Program in Human Sexuality.

Encouraging international collaboration is another of Gault’s legacies. In the wake of the Korean War, Gault and his family lived in Seoul, where he helped to rebuild the medical education system at Seoul National University. This visit sparked the first international collaboration for the Medical School, a partnership that continues to flourish today. During his career, Gault also traveled to China, Japan, Vietnam, Turkey, and Lebanon.

Gault was born in Austin, Texas, on August 22, 1920. After graduating from high school and attending the University of Texas, he spent time in the service and was adjutant for the United States Air Force Regional Hospital from 1943 to 1946. Following his military service, he was accepted to the Baylor University College of Medicine and finished his medical education at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 1950.

He provided exemplary service and leadership to the Minnesota Medical Foundation, serving on the board of trustees from 1959 to 1992, and he continued to raise philanthropic support for scholarships and research in close collaboration with his colleagues at the foundation. He also served on the Medical Alumni Society Board from 1973 to 1991, and served as a mentor for medical students long after his retirement.

Among Gault’s many awards were the University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award, given in August of this year; the Harold S. Diehl Award, the highest award given by the Medical Alumni Society; the University’s Outstanding Achievement Award; and, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, given by the emperor of Japan in 1992. He was also made honorary alumnus of Seoul National University College of Medicine in 1994.

He is survived by his children, Elizabeth (Brink) Harrison, John (Beverly) Gault, and Paul Gault; grandchildren Lindsey Gault, Jeff Gault, Neil Harrison, and Andy (Christina) Harrison; great-granddaughter Evelyn Harrison; and special friend Britt-Marie Nyman.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Jan. 16, 2009 at the University of Minnesota’s Mayo Auditorium, 425 Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis. Dr. Gault requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the Drs. Neal and Sarah Gault Medical Student International Study Fund through the Minnesota Medical Foundation. Memorials may be sent to the medical foundation, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, or made online at www.mmf.umn.edu/giveto/gault.

About the University of Minnesota Medical School
Dedicated to excellence, diversity and service, the University of Minnesota Medical School educates the next generation of physicians, advances patient care and discovers breakthroughs in biomedical research that enhance health in Minnesota and beyond. Its commitment to transform medical education, Rural Physician Associate Program, and success in training Native American physicians are well-known. More than 1,500 Medical School physicians and scientists provide world-class care and carry out nearly $200 million in research, which informs the treatments and care that patients receive. For more information, go to www.med.umn.edu.

About the Minnesota Medical Foundation
Founded in 1939, the Minnesota Medical Foundation raises millions of dollars annually for health-related education, research and service at the University of Minnesota, with gifts supporting academic programs, research, faculty positions, scholarships, facilities and equipment purchases. Gifts directed to research fund studies related to children’s health, public health, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infectious diseases and other critical illnesses. For more information about the foundation, please call 612-625-1440 or visit www.mmf.umn.edu.

Contact:          
Nick Hanson, Academic Health Center, 612-624-2449
Sara Martin, Academic Health Center, 612-626-7037