Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen
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Title | <Head Trauma Surgeon> |
Gender | Male |
Race | Human (Humanoid) |
Level | 15-30 |
Reaction | Alliance Horde |
Affiliation(s) | Alliance Trauma |
Occupation | Trauma Surgeon, Doctor |
Location | Theramore Isle, Dustwallow Marsh |
Status | Alive |
Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen, trauma surgeon and chief physician of Alliance Trauma, is a human first aid trainer located on the ground floor of Foothold Citadel on Theramore Isle in Dustwallow Marsh. He also oversees the training of Theramore's healers.[1] In addition to teaching artisan level first aid skill, he teaches how to create Heavy Mageweave Bandages at 240+, Runecloth Bandages at 260+ skill and Heavy Runecloth Bandages at 290+ skill for free.
When the Horde attacked Theramore, he remained in the city. After the Horde escaped from the city, VanHowzen began with healing injured soldiers.[2] He survived the detonation of the mana bomb in the city.
Years later, he could be seen outside the Caverns of Time in Tanaris during the Bronze Celebration, along with Doctor Gregory Victor.
Quests
[15-30] Alliance Trauma
[15-30] Triage
Quotes
- Gossip
Greetings, <name>. I am Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen, head trauma surgeon of Alliance Trauma.
- Low level first aid
It is good to see you again, Doctor <name>. I have been following your progress and I dare say that it is time you learned some of the more advanced bandaging techniques.
Return to me from time to time, as your skill advances, and I shall teach you all that I know.
WoW's Anniversary
- Gossip
Greetings, <name>. Do make sure to care for yourself as you enjoy the festivities. I've had no end of patients suffering from mild heat exhaustion and dehydration.
- Dialogue
- Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen says: When you offered to lend me a hand...
- Doctor Gregory Victor says: Yes?
- Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen says: Well, I just wasn't expecting you to pull out an actual hand.
- Doctor Gregory Victor says: Always useful in our line of work.
- Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen says: I suspect more so for a Forsaken.
- Doctor Gregory Victor says: You'd be surprised.
Trivia
His name is possibly a reference to the German physician Harald zur Hausen (the 2008 Nobel prize in medicine in 2008). 'Hausen' and 'Howzen' are phonetically identical, and the German 'zur' is a name prefix very similar to the Dutch 'van'. Zur Hausens name prefix 'zur' is not a nobility particle in this case but a prefix referring to his ancestral origin, identical to the Dutch 'van', which is also not a nobility particle, unlike the German 'von'. Lastly, both 'Harald' and 'Gustav' (in a more typical variant) are very common Scandinavian names, whereas 'Harald' is the typical name of Norwegian kings while Gustav is the typical name of Swedish and Danish kings. Zur Hausen was a highly distinguished physician and medical researcher long before he was awarded the Nobel prize.
Another possible reference, with a more obvious name similarity, is to the famous TV series physician Dr. House. While both World of Warcraft and "House, M.D." were initially released in the US in November 2004 (23. for World of Warcraft, 16. for the TV series), VanHowzen was likely already present during the beta of World of Warcraft, clearly predating the TV series character.
In Russian version, this character is named Густав ван Склифф (Gustav van Skliff) as reference to Russian surgeon Nikolay Sklifosovsky and Sklifosovsky Institute for Emergency Medicine (nicknamed Sklif).
Patch changes
Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): Model updated, title changed from <First Aid Trainer>.