Dr. John P. McGovern was widely celebrated as a physician, educator, author, medical historian, philanthropist and humanitarian. In late 2001, the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science was dedicated in his honor to recognize the unparalleled contributions of Dr. McGovern to the Museum's success. Dr. McGovern’s contributions have allowed The Health Museum to educate and entertain hundreds of thousands of children and families by providing innovative exhibits and interactive programs on health and medical science.

About Dr. John P. McGovern

McGovern was Founder-Emeritus of the McGovern Allergy and Asthma Clinic, which was established in 1956 and became the largest private clinic in the nation. He established the John. P. McGovern Foundation in 1961, where he served as the president and chairman of the board. His interest in rare and antiquarian books spurred the creation of the McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center at the Texas Medical Center Library, where he served as the honorary curator for nearly 30 years.

Dr. McGovern was the author, co-author or editor of more than 252 publications, including 26 books. He served as the editor or on the editorial board of more than 20 scientific journals and held more than a dozen professorships.
Dr. McGovern’s awards included the Meritorious Service Award from the American Medical Association, l’Order National du Merite awarded by the president of France, the Royal Medallion of the Polar Star bestowed by the king of Sweden and the Kemal Ataturk Gold Medal Distinguished Service Award presented by the government of Turkey. He also received honorary degrees from more than 30 colleges and universities.

A native of Washington, D.C., Dr. McGovern received both his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Duke University in the 1940s.