Surgeons and Surgery at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital 1912–1980

Nicholas L. Tilney, M.D.

“...A Perfectly Striking Departure is important because there are so few comprehensive histories of surgical practice in twentieth-century America. But it is also the kind of book that gives ‘great doctor’ history a bad name...” Isis, 98 : 2 (2007)

“…With this feast of material at his command, Dr Tilney has produced a scholarly and fascinating book—well written, copiously illustrated, and full of interesting stories. It will provide reading pleasure to any surgeon with an interest in the recent history of surgical craft and science”—JAMA
(for complete review see JAMA. 2007;297:320.)

Sir William Osler, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University and arguably the most highly recognized physician in the world at the time was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony for the new Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in 1913. He remarked that “today I have seen a new and perfectly striking departure in hospital growth, a very important step in medical education, and a great thing for the future development of medicine.”

During its seven decade existence as a teaching arm of the Harvard Medical School, the hospital fulfilled Osler’s predictions. Although small in size, it was heavily endowed and able to attract a faculty of international rank who blended exemplary residency training with comprehensive patient care through careful clinical observation, accurate laboratory assessment, biological knowledge, and innovative technical improvements.

Activities of the Department of Surgery at the Peter Bent Brigham began with the introduction of an entirely new specialty of neurosurgery by the first surgeon-in-chief, Harvey Cushing. A polymath, Cushing not only revolutionized the care of soldiers sustaining head injuries in war, but won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Osler. He likewise assembled an incomparable collection of rare medical books and incunabula, the foundation in large part of the Historical Library at the Yale Medical School…

Front Matter and Contents (86 KB)