Harry Bisel

Dr. Harry Bisel (1918 - 1994) was a pioneer in the field of medical oncology.

He was active in the American Cancer Society and a consultant to the National Cancer Institute. He was born on June 17, 1918 in Manor, Pennsylvania, USA. He attended Peabody High School and the University of Pittsburgh. There, he recieved the MD degree in 1942. He did his post doctoral work at Sloan-Kettering Institute.

Dr. Bisel was the first formally trained oncologist hired by the Mayo Clinic. He was on staff from 1963 until he retired in 1984. He was instrumental in creation and development of the Mayo oncology division.

Dr. Harry Bisel, along with Doctor's Fred Ansfield, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus Goudsmit, Robert Talley, William Wilson, and Jane Wright, was one of the founding members of the American Society of Clinical Oncologist (ASCO). This group, through the formation of ASCO, is largly credited with the creation of the field of modern medical or clinical oncology. Bisel was the first president of ASCO.