Hugh Young

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Hugh Hampton Young, MD (18 September 1870–23 August 1945) was an American surgeon, urologist, and medical researcher.

Born in San Antonio, Texas on September 18, 1870, he graduated from the University of Virginia in 1891 after acquiring BA, MA, and MD degrees in just four years. As of 1895 he began teaching at Johns Hopkins Institute and by 1897 he was the head of their urology department, at an age of just 27. He would remain there for most of his life, until 1940.

Among Young's contributions to the medical field are several inventions and discoveries, primarily relating to surgery. One such innovation was the "boomerang needle", a type of surgical needle designed for working with deep incisions. He also invented a device known as the Young punch, an instrument used in prostatectomy procedures. He and his associates also discovered the antiseptic merbromin, more popularly known as Mercurochrome, one of its brand names. Young is also credited with performing the first radical perineal prostatectomy, an operation for removal of prostate cancer.

In addition to his pioneering medical work, Young had a personal interest in the burgeoning field of aviation and chaired a committee for planning what is now Baltimore-Washington International Airport, which at the time was to be named "Friendship Airport". He was also active in community affairs and was known to be a supporter of Albert Cabell Ritchie, a Maryland polititian who made a bid for presidency in 1932 but lost the nomination to Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the Democratic convention in Chicago, where Young was among the delegates.

Young wrote an autobiography entitled Hugh Young, a surgeon's autobiography (published by Harcourt, Brace and company in 1940) as well as several urological texts. He died on August 23, 1945 and is buried in Druid Ridge Cemetery, in Baltimore, Maryland.