September 1999
Volume 63 |
Number 9
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| Under-recognized
Heroes of Anesthesiology |
Horace Wells, D.D.S.
(1815-1848)
Francis H. McMechan,
M.D. (1879-1939)
Henry K. Beecher,
M.D. (1904-1976)
Robert Andrew Hingson,
M.D. (1913-1996)
Curtis L. Mendelson,
M.D. (1913- )
Robert A. Berman,
M.D. (1914- )
James O. Elam, M.D.
(1918-1995)
Brian A. Sellick,
M.B. (1918-1996)
Adolph H. Giesecke, Jr., M.D., Trustee
Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiolog
ASA does an excellent job of recognizing its heroes, both past
and present. The Society has a variety of mechanisms for this
form of recognition. The Distinguished Service Award is the highest
honor and is presented yearly at the only plenary session of the
ASA Annual Meeting. This year, Harry H. Bird, M.D., will receive
the award. At the same plenary session, the membership will have
an opportunity to listen to the honorific E.A. Rovenstine Memorial
Lecture, presented by Carl C. Hug, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. The Award
for Excellence in Research will be presented in the same session
to Warren M. Zapol, M.D. At the House of Delegates meeting, the
Section on Annual Meeting will present awards to the best scientific
exhibits. The House of Delegates will elect a new slate of officers,
and to hold office in our Society is still considered an honor
even though substantial service is required of the officers.
Through the decades since the introduction of the practice
of anesthesiology, some unique individuals have contributed significantly
to the science of anesthesiology. Others have improved the welfare
of its practitioners or the welfare of public society through
innovations outside the restricted specialty of anesthesiology;
yet many have not received the accolades of their peers or official
recognition by ASA. Explanations vary for each of the individuals.
Some sought recognition so aggressively that they were rejected.
Others had personalities so controversial that they were ignored.
One had a defect in his training, which could never be overlooked
by his colleagues no matter how great his accomplishments.
This issue of the ASA NEWSLETTER, coordinated by
the Trustees of the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM),
will attempt to shed some light on the careers of these great
leaders. The list could be very long. The ones chosen are the
favorites of the WLM Committee on Publicity, which I chair. I
recognize that the choices were arbitrary, and we may have left
out your favorite. If so, I apologize and will look forward to
receiving your manuscript for consideration for next year's issue
of the ASA NEWSLETTER that features historical topics.
For the rest, I hope that you enjoy reading and learning about
the controversial, under-recognized heroes of anesthesiology.
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