Frank Hinman, Jr. Professorship in Urology

FRANK HINMAN, JR., MD was a renowned surgeon, genitourinary educator, and illustrator. His father, Frank Hinman, Sr., was the first trained urologist in California. Dr. Hinman was born on October 2, 1915, educated at Grant and Galileo public schools, and graduated from Stanford University with Great Distinction in 1937. Completing a MD at Johns Hopkins Medical School, he stayed for internship from 1941-42. After two years of surgical residency in Cincinnati, he was called to duty in the US Navy with the Seabees in the Pacific Theater of WWII before reassignment to the carrier Intrepid.

After the war, he completed urology residency training at the University of California and joined his father in private practice. He became actively engaged in urological research and education at the university and nationally. In 1951, he was one of eight founders of the Society of Pediatric Urology. In 1958, he became the Chief of Urology at San Francisco General Hospital. His research interest in bladder defense mechanisms achieved 17 years of NIH support and led to better clinical approaches to infection.

Dr. Hinman authored over 250 scientific articles and numerous books including the Atlas of Urologic Surgery, the Atlas of Pediatric Urologic Surgery, and UroSurgical Anatomy. He won many honors including the Pediatric Urology Medal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Barringer Medal of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, Valentine Medal of the New York Academy of Medicine, and honorary membership to the Gold-Headed Cane Society at UCSF.

In 1995, Dr. Hinman received The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award, an honor to alumni from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who have demonstrated excellence and achievement through their personal and professional accomplishments. The American Urological Association honored him with the Hugh Young Award, the Ramon Guiteras Medal, and the William P. Didusch Award for contributions to medical art. He was a Trustee of the American Board of Urology, a founding member and President of the Society of University Urologists, Vice President of the American College of Surgeons, and President of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons to name a few leadership positions.

During quieter moments of war time service, Dr. Hinman took up painting and continued to the end of his life. One painting was published in Life Magazine and two were cover illustrations for the Journal of the American Medical Association. He produced 150 canvases, two one-person shows, and in later years switched to acrylic paint, explaining wryly “because it dries quickly”. He and his late wife, Marion, had a great love of sailing and Dr. Hinman was named Yachtsman of the Year in 1998 by the San Francisco Yacht Club. He was a devoted member of the Bohemian Club and the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Dr. Hinman and his wife had no children, and bequeathed much of their estate to urological research, including a substantial gift to The Brady Urological Institute, enabling the establishment of the Frank Hinman, Jr. Professorship in Urology.