After the war, he returned to Chicago to practice medicine. He was working for the health department during the time the
Spanish Flu Pandemic impacted the city in 1918, playing a role in securing
flu vaccine for the city. A 1921
Chicago Tribune article reported that, while in this role, an incident had occurred in which he happened upon a crew dumping trash into
Lake Michigan and ordered them to stop. Instead of listening, a worker pulled out a
pickaxe, in response to which Bundensen produced a
pistol, which persuaded the pickaxe-wielding worker to flee.
Clarence Darrow had been the lawyer representing Barmore. the
Supreme Court of Illinois also found that the health commissioner lacked much authority, since the city had no board of health (as authorized by the state), but instead had itself established a Department of Health. The court decided that the
Chicago City Council had no authority to delegate to the Department of Health authority equivalent to what the state would allow them to grant a board of health. He had been appointed because of his efforts in combatting the typhoid epidemic. Chicago newspapers and medical journals criticized this, arguing that it promoted "immoral" behavior. Early into his tenure, Bundensen was informed of a
child abuser impersonating a
dentist and going to
public schools claiming to have been sent to examine children. He tracked the imposter to a rooming house, where a woman told him that the man was out. He threatened to arrest the woman in his place, after which she admitted the abuser was hiding in a closet. The
Chicago Tribune reported the story under the headline "Dr. Bundesen Nabs Moron Who Hoaxed School". During his time in office, he acquired celebrity, often taking photo ops. Bundensen became well known, particularly for his efforts related to milk. He received many national recognitions, enjoyed wide respect from the Chicago medical community, and was elected the President of the
American Public Health Association. Northwestern University, his
alma mater, awarded him an
honorary degree in recognition of his work as a public health official. The firing soon after garner a vote of approval in the Chicago City Council. Bundensen had entered discussion with the Sanity Board's president, T. J. Crowe, in late 1927 about holding such a position. In this position, Bundensen was involved in talks between the district and Chicago steel plants to decrease their contribution Lake Michigan
water pollution.
Cook County Coroner In November 1928, running as the
Democratic nominee, Bundesen was elected
Cook County Coroner. He defeated the incumbent Republican coroner,
Oscar Wolff, by a three-to-one margin. He received in excess of one million votes.
Second tenure as Chicago City Health Commissioner and tenure as President of the Chicago Board of Health In the
1931 Chicago mayoral election, Bundesen was speculated as a potential independent candidate, but in early March 1931 he declined to run in the April election. Despite having been rivals of sorts with Democratic nominee
Anton Cermak, Bundesen supported him over William Hale Thompson in the election. Later in 1931, he was hired by the newly elected mayor Cermak to again head serve as Health Commissioner of the City of Chicago. After losing the Democratic primary for governor, Bundesen returned to his job as the chief health official of Chicago. Bundesen supported
Jonas Salk's efforts to eradicate polio. In 1955, Chicago became one of the earliest cities in the United States to introduce Salk's
polio vaccine. Bundesen campaigned for total
inoculation of all youth. Bundesen garnered strong repute within his field. He served as a senior surgeon with the
United States Public Health Service. ==Personal life==