History of Urology in Erie County

Saint Vincent Urology Group 1973 Top left: Anthony Kaminsky Top right: Harold McLaren Bottom left: Robert Marsh Bottom middle: Russell Roth Bottom right: William Atkins

History of urology in Erie County Pennsylvania is intimately tied to the lives and contributions of several pioneering urologists who shape the field in this region.

Starting in 1920 the first three generations of esteemed figures such as Elmer Hess, Russell Roth, Anthony Kaminsky, Richard Lyons, Harold Maclaren, Robert Marsh, and William Adkins made an indelible mark on urological care Erie.

In many ways, the history of Urology in the Erie region should be viewed through the lives of those early urologists.

All these men Should be featured for their unique personal touches to our community, but we’ll start with Harold Mclaren:

Harold Johnston McLaren Jr MD started his career in Erie after his residency in urology at St. Vincent Hospital from 1953 through 1956. Born on April 23^rd, 1927, in New Brighton Pennsylvania, he attended Grove City College, then went to Hannaman University in Philadelphia where he received his MD degree in 1949. He did his internship year at Hahnemann Hospital. Then he served our military as a flight surgeon in the US Navy during the Korean War. Following his residency at St. Vincent Hospital he joined the Hess Urology group later named Saint Vincent Urology until 1986. During his time at St. Vincent ‘s hospital, he also held multiple leadership positions, including his directorship of the St. Vincent ‘s Urology residency. He mentored countless medical students and many residents for over 30 years. Through his work as residency director, he truly advanced and created access to modern urological care in our region. After retiring from St. Vincent, he spent the next six years at the Veterans Administration Hospital, tending to his fellow veterans.

He was a multifaceted individual. Through his Scottish ancestry, he was known for his frugality and dry sense of humor. These attributes endeared him to his colleagues and his patients alike.

Dr Mclaren was a staunch advocate for organized medicine and was a member of the Erie County medical Society, Pennsylvania medical Society, American medical Society, American College of Surgeons, and the American Urological Association.

He also felt a sense of history and purpose and was a member of the sons of the American revolution.

Other accolades include his humanitarian service to project Hope in Peru in 1962 and took on the thankless position of being elected to the Erie school board in the 1960s. he was commitment to his church (Presbyterian Church of the Covenant) as a deacon elder and trustee.

He was truly Renaissance individual with interest in gardening, backpacking the Appalachian Trail, participating in the Erie quad games, and his genealogical research.

All this made Dr. McLaren a notable and interesting physician who through his caring and compassion was remembered by his patients and colleagues years after his retirement and passing.