Edward T. Creagan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward T. Creagan is an American retired oncologist, author, educator, and advocate for animal-assisted therapy.[1] Creagan is based in Rochester, Minnesota, where he has been affiliated with the Mayo Clinic for over forty years.[2][3] He taught medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine[4] and is professor emeritus of oncology and palliative and hospice medicine at the Mayo Clinic Medical School.[2] Creagan was the first Mayo Clinic consultant to become board certified in hospice and palliative medicine.[5]
Creagan received his medical degree in internal medicine from New York Medical College in 1970. He subsequently studied oncology at the University of Michigan and the National Cancer Institute before joining the staff at the Mayo Clinic.[6]
In 1979, Creagan was the head of a Mayo Clinic study on the effectiveness of large doses of vitamin C for cancer patients. Creagan and his team provided high doses of vitamin C to 150 patients at the Mayo Clinic with advanced stages of cancer. Patients in the controlled study either received 10 grams of vitamin C or a placebo of lactose per day. The results of the study, which found “no appreciable difference in changes of symptoms,”[7] were published in The New England Journal of Medicine on September 26, 1979.[8] The Mayo Clinic’s study disputed Linus Pauling’s assertion that megadoses of vitamin C can be impactful in prolonging the lives of patients with terminal cancer.[9]
Creagan’s medicinal work includes contributions to animal-assisted therapy.[10] As part of a Mayo Clinic’s use of animal-assisted therapy, Creagan co-authored a paper that combines anecdotal patient evidence, medical studies, and a review of existing literature titled “Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic: The time is now.”[11] He is also cited in the 2003 book, The Healing Power of Pets, by veterinarian Marty Becker, which mentions the impetus for Creagan’s utilization of animal-assisted therapy. Becker notes that Creagan initially realized the important role that animal bonding had on his patients' wellbeing when he was treating someone with stage 4 cancer. When the patient talked about her cat, her demeanor changed and she exhibited signs of breaking through cancer-related depression. Creagan is quoted in the book reflecting upon the experience, “I think it creates healing of the soul. Some of the energy and the resentment is channeled in a positive way for caring for the pet.”[12]
In 2014, Creagan was elected to the board of the American Humane Association.[13]