Dr. Gösta Arturson’s career-long intrigue with burn injury and illness began with the preparation of his Doctor of Medicine thesis: Pathophysiological aspects of the burn syndrome with special reference to liver injury and alteration of capillary permeability. (Acta Chir Scand Suppl. 1961; Suppl 274: 1-135)

His research skills were enhanced while a Fellow at the Industrial Injuries and Burns Research Unit, Birmingham Accident Hospital, Birmingham, England, in 1963. As an assiduous investigator and accomplished scholar, the publications of his life’s work show contributions of fundamental importance that have augmented our knowledge in the pathophysiology of the burn syndrome, specifically in the areas of microvascular permeability, inflammatory mediators, inhalation injury, the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, hypermetabolism, energy expenditure, nutrition, infection, immunology, liver function, kidney function, and fluid resuscitation.

Of additional importance are Dr. Arturson’s contributions in Disaster Medicine, especially in the organizational aspects of emergency relief for mass casualty burns and for the prevention of nuclear war.