Walter Pritchard

Walter Pritchard finished second in the 1932 AAU steeplechase. He was fifth in the 1931 NCAA meet mile, competing for Hamilton College. Pritchard then attended Harvard Medical School, after which he did his internship and residency at Case Western Reserve.

Pritchard studied internal medicine, but became an early specialist in cardiology. In 1956 he was named chief of cardiology at Case Western Reserve and held that role until 1973. He was promoted to full professor of medicine in 1960. In 1971 he was named chief of staff at University Hospital, holding that role until 1978. Pritchard was credited with performing the first defibrillation to restore a patient’s heartbeat. The track & field complex at Hamilton College is named in his honor, Pritchard Field.

Personal Best: 3000S – 9:19.2 (1932).