James G. Golseth

James G. Golseth, M.D., 90, Pasadena, California died Saturday, March 29, 2003 at Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA. Dr. Golseth was born on September 16, 1912 in Jamestown, the son of Dr. Gustave & Mrs. Florence (Pugh) Golseth. After the death of his father (an ophthalmologist) in 1924 he moved with his mother and older brother, Ralph, to Valley City, ND, and then to Iowa City, IA where he graduated from high school in 1930. After obtaining a bachelor of science degree in education from NDSU in 1935, he earned a degree of bachelor of arts at UND. Becoming interested in medicine, he obtained a bachelor of science degree in medicine from the University of North Dakota in 1939, a bachelor of medicine degree from Northwestern University Medical School in 1941 and a doctor of medicine degree from the same school the following year.

He served his internship at Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL from July 1941 to July 1942 and then worked at Northwestern Medical School in neurology, electromyography and electrodiagnosis under a four-year fellowship. He was elected to Sigma Xi in 1944.

Dr. Goldseth obtained his license to practice medicine in Illinois in 1942 and in California in 1946. He went to California to do research full-time for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

He served as instructor in neurology at Northwestern's Medical School, Department of Nervous and Mental Diseases (1944-46) and was a Research Associate (1946-48) at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In 1948 he was appointed Associate Clinical Professor in that department.

During WW II he was a lieutenant, j.g., in the U.S. Navy, doing research in medical electronics and electrophysiology at Northwestern, at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, MI and at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, IL.

Dr. Goldseth was a world authority in the field of electrophysiology. He was the founder and director of the Department of Electromyography, Electrodiagnosis and Electroencephalography at Pasadena's Huntington Memorial Hospital. He was also founder and consultant at the Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital's Department of Electromyography and Electrodiagnosis. Dr. Golseth was also a consultant to the Surgeon General of the United States.

He published many scientific papers on his findings and works in the electrical diagnosis and treatment of nerve and muscle disorders field. He was a pioneer in research with the electromyograph and designed improvements for this instrument. During the 1940's and 50's Dr. Golseth was associated with pioneering diagnosis and treatment of poliomyelitis patients. He is credited with using the electromyograph in this work with more ingenuity than anyone else.

Dr. Golseth is survived by four daughters, Judith & Kalmen Sapero, Scottsdale, AZ; Carolyn & James Bonzi, Paso Robles, CA; Barbara & John Kettlewell, Scottsdale, AZ and Florence & Baron Schrapnel of Camberra, Australia, fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ralph.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM, Friday, April 4, 2003, Eddy Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, North Dakota with Rev. Dick Boyd officiating.

Visitation: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Thursday, April 3, 2003, Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.

Burial: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, North Dakota.