Theodore C. Lyster

Who was Theodore C. Lyster?

Brigadier General Theodore C. Lyster, M.D. was a United States Army physician and aviation medicine pioneer.

In 1918, Lyster established an Army laboratory that put aviation medicine on a sound scientific basis in the United States and he insisted on making military aviation physicians become organic parts of the flying squadrons, thus creating the position and role of “flight surgeon”. These efforts, along with his 1917 creation of the post of Chief Surgeon, Aviation Section, Signal Corps and his planning and directing of the United States Army Air Medical Service, earned him the title of “Father of Aviation Medicine” or “ Father of Army Aviation Medicine”.