Russel J. Thomsen, MD, began collecting intrauterine devices (IUDs) after testifying to a Senate committee investigating the safety of the devices in 1974. The committee was chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy, and Thomsen was a young OBGYN serving in the Army, based in Louisiana.
Thomsen, who has donated his extensive IUD collection to the School of Medicine, has made a small portion available in the administrative offices of the department of Ob/Gyn in Coleman Pavilion (first floor) until Jan. 20.