author
Earl W. Phelan
1900–1993
A chemistry professor and science writer, he helped explain the medical uses of radioisotopes in clear, practical terms. His best-known work brings mid-century nuclear medicine within reach of general readers.
1 Audiobook
Radioisotopes in Medicine
by Earl W. Phelan
About the author
Born in 1900 and dying in 1993, Earl W. Phelan was an American chemist, teacher, and nonfiction writer best remembered for Radioisotopes in Medicine. Reliable catalog and public-domain sources connect him with a long academic career in chemistry and with science communication aimed at students and general readers.
Available biographical notes describe him as a professor of chemistry at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee. They also say he previously served in the Laboratory Director’s Office at Argonne National Laboratory from 1952 to 1965, where his work included editing and student information duties, and that he had earlier been head of the chemistry department at what is now Valdosta State University.
His writing reflects a teacher’s instinct: straightforward, informative, and focused on helping readers understand how scientific ideas work in real life. In Radioisotopes in Medicine, he explains how radioactive materials were being used in diagnosis and treatment, giving modern readers a concise window into the history of twentieth-century medical science.